Mark K. Bilbo wrote:
On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:18:32 -0800, Mike Hunt wrote:

The issue isn't that the Rabbi wanted the Christmas ornaments removed,
but he wanted representation of his religion a this public facility.

That request was denied, even though the last Supreme Court case on the
subject agreed with the Rabbi.

The fact that the airport management took down the Christmas ornaments
leads me to believe that they knew they were in violation of that ruling
. Why didn't they simply allow the Menorah to be displayed? Could it be
they are anti-semitic

It was a good, grandstanding way of getting what they wanted. I understand
that the trees are coming back.

I notice nobody asking why it is tax money has to be spent on ornaments
rather than silly things like, you know, fixing potholes or even something
really absurd like airport security...

Actually, spending tax money on airport security is the modern
equivalent of spending tax money to build a lighthouse network on the
Great Lakes -- largely for the benefit of the steel companies.

Sure, we all benefit from increased safety. But since the lanes
(whether sea or air) are plied by very top-heavy for-profit industries
-- isn't there something fishy going on when such an industry offloads
the least profitable aspect of its operation expenses to the taxpayer?

It's worse than either capitalism (supposedly "free market") or
communism (in which the public would also own the airline). Rather,
it's an advanced form of despotism, fascism, whatever you want to call
it, in which people are forced to pay for what is part of a for-profit
private service. Like building stadiums.