Friday, May 11, 2007 Got a question? Get an answer. Send an e-mail to Dear Mr. Mullings Dear Mr. Mullings: What is the significance of the three ounce limit for liquids, gels, and/or aerosols in carry-on luggage? Pam Let's review the bidding: The International Herald Tribune recently reminded us: As travelers on airlines know too well, airport authorities banned practically all liquids from being transported on board after an onboard bombing plot was uncovered in London last August. For a while the Transportation Safety Agency (TSA), which is a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, decided to play it safe and banned all liquids from all US flights. There was an exception, I vaguely recall, for breast milk but I don't remember whether it could be in a bottle or had to be in its orginal storage container(s). According to the article "The one-quart plastic bag limit has science behind it," said Ellen Howe, a spokeswoman for the agency. "Given that there are three ounces or less per canister and a limited number you can put in one bag, it's implied that there's not enough in one bag to pose a significant risk to the aircraft." Works for me, but I'm still amazed at the number of people who go up to the screening station with casks of liquids and then are angry when they are told they can't bring them through. Dear Mr. Mullings: Congress is dysfunctional (both parties). What are the chances of a grass roots drive to enact term limits? Bill According to the youdebate.com website: The term limits concept was considered during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, it was rejected by the delegates, who instead provided for short terms of office, two years for the House of Representatives, four years for the Presidency, and six years for the Senate. James Madison, who opposed term limits at the Constitutional Convention, recorded in his notes the words of a fellow delegate, Roger Sherman: "Frequent elections are necessary to preserve the good behavior of rulers. They also tend to give permanency to the Government, by preserving that good behavior, because it ensures their re-election." Term limits are generally favored by those in the minority for obvious reasons. According to Wikipedia, some 15 states have term limits for their legislators. Six states had term limits but, for a variety of reasons, have withdrawn them. In Virginia, the Govnernor has a very severe term limit: One. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution imposes term limits on the President but there is little public sentiment to impose them on Members of Congress or Senators. Last one Dear Mr. Mullings: Why are gas prices going up again with Democrats in control of both houses? I thought they were supposed to fix all of that. Jennifer Yeah, well, that's just one of the many issues the House Democrats are ignoring in their zeal to talk about Iraq all day every day except for when they are grilling Alberto Gonzales and sending supoeanas for any e-mail Karl Rove might have written to any person at any time since Al Gore invented the Internet. As I briefly pointed out in today's MULLINGS, Senate Democrats are losing patience with House Dems because they recognize there is other business to attend to, and having constant debate over, and votes on, Iraq is leading them down a road which might well end in defeats next year. See you next week. Rich Got a question? Get an answer. Send an e-mail to Dear Mr. Mullings                                     Click here to return to the Secret Decoder Ring page Copyright © 2007 Barrington Worldwide, LLC