Federal fools at Philadelphia International Airport prevented Angeline O’Grady from boarding her flight with her late husband’s ashes. (A few years ago, TSA plainly stated on its website that it permitted such items past its unconstitutional checkpoints. However, with its brutes dropping funerary urns after inappropriately opening them and splashing the agency across worldwide, unfavorable headlines, it seems to have revoked that license. Neither urns nor ashes appear in its list of “Prohibited Items” apart from this autocratic disclaimer: “It’s important to know that even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it … poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.” So there, serfs.) Mrs. O’Grady duly packed the ashes in her checked baggage, only to find them gone when she reached her destination.

She is suing the airline, which (no doubt truthfully) insists it’s not responsible. A pity she doesn’t go after the true culprit, but her lawyer probably bets the Feds won’t waive their sovereign immunity.

I’m trying to feel sorry for her carrier, but, dang it, I just can’t. Aviation’s huge corporations adore the TSA for shifting the costs of complying with the FAA’s expensive and silly mandates on “security” from them to us. Alas, sometimes the price for supporting the police-state includes suffering financially and unjustly.

Here’s hoping you reap millions, Ms. O’Grady, however tacky profiting from grief may be. (Thanks to Doug Newman for alerting me to this story.)

The Best of Becky Akers