A proposed law that bans cell phone conversations during commercial flights. Introduced as part of the War on Insufferable Plane Phone Talkers, the law has more to do with preserving sanity than safety. Passengers have long complained about being captives in a closed environment to loud conversations ranging from some salesman making a pitch to a client, a father scolding his child, or a husband and wife having an argument.

However, the law raises serious questions about whether the federal government should have a say in a matter that really comes down to etiquette. In other words, being obnoxious is not the same as being illegal. On the other hands, people should also learn to be more tolerant in a public environment.