I Feel So Safe I Could PUKE
I just spent four hours in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic, picking up my husband because the aircraft he was flying in had a transponder failure, thus it was not allowed to return to its airport of origin to protect the world from possible terrorists. The new rule is that nobody without a working transponder can enter the zone within 30 nautical miles of Washington, DC. Protect that shrub!
It didn't matter that the pilot in command and owner of the aircraft in question had been vetted by the Secret Service, who now likely know more about him than his wife does. It didn't matter that the aircraft was on a flight plan and could clearly been seen by radar as following its flight plan. It didn't matter that flight without a transponder is of no hazard to anyone, and it didn't matter that the aircraft was returning to its place of origin after the transponder suddenly failed IN FLIGHT. Nope, none of those things matter to the safety and security of our hallowed leaders who must be kept completely safe from those EVIL Cessna 172s that might possibly dump airplane parts somewhere possibly near enough to the White House to cause a litter hazard.
For those who don't know, a transponder is the little device that broadcasts a code number to air traffic control so that they can positively identify you. In olden times, when a transponder would fail in an area where one was required, one would phone up the nearest facility (or use the radio if they were already in the air) and request a waiver. If there was no hassle, such as overly full airspace, or other unforeseen annoyances, they would say "right o" and that would be that. But not anymore. Now, even if air traffic control wanted to, they can't allow you in because some dipshit with no aviation experience has made the decision FOR us.
I'm just happy that my air conditioner worked in the car while sitting through 4 hours of driving in bumper to bumper traffic.