knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ ls -l ~/.config/autostart
total 12
-rw-r--r-- 1 knoppix knoppix 4832 Jul 7 09:05 nm-applet.desktop
-rw-r--r-- 1 knoppix knoppix 2532 Jul 7 09:05 polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1.desktop

knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ ls -l /etc/xdg/autostart
total 8
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4831 Jan 26 23:53 nm-applet.desktop
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2531 Jan 15 23:40 polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1.desktop

knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ cat -n /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
1 @xscreensaver -no-splash
2 @lxpanel --profile LXDE
3 @pcmanfm --desktop --profile LXDE
4 @/usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1

Desktop Session Settings gui has two boxes checked:
Policy Authentication Agent; and Network Manager.
Perhaps the first box shouldn't be checked? Might that be the problem?