My next door neighbor flies for Northwest. We got into a discussion the other day about the happenings in the news and his employer seeking bankruptcy, the 3,100 jobs they want to cut, and the idiots in the cleaning/mechanics union demanding too much and are now being replaced with people that want to work. He has not only taken pay cuts over the years, but is in a position to lose most of his pension. His underlying comment was that Bush was to blame for the demise of the entire airline industry including Northwest. In a typical pro-union democrat fashion, he could not back the statement up beyond blaming Bush for the hard core fuel prices driving the entire economy into the dirt. It's obvious that many other factors beyond our president have contributed to high energy prices and slowing economy, including the inevitable plan God has laid out thousands of years ago.
With that said, should all these airlines be allowed to go into bankruptcy prior to the new ruling due in October in order to proctect themselves? Isn't it about time to let the chips fall where they may with regard to who will be able to run a profitable airline? And the obvious question here, is Bush to blame for the airlines once again finding themselves in trouble?
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
Bush must be at fault. After all the "Buck stops" at him. It's raining outside and I don't like it. Must be his fault. The great thing about this country is the Free Market. The president alone can't destroy companies. As you mentioned, there are so many variables when it comes to the economy that you can't blame one person for it's down fall. But like a professor of government told me years ago in college. Presidents get the blame for everything, whether it's good or bad and 99% of the time have little to nothing to do with the result.
__________________
03 Mathew LX
125 grn NAP Spitefires
Easton Axis
03 Summit Viper XLS
Mossy Oak/ Realtree Hardwoods HD
Every airline could've done what Southwest did and buy fuel upfront for a lot less than they'll be paying now. Most of them opted not to do that, so they dug their own grave in regards to increasing fuel expenses.
I saw an interview with Richard Branson, of Virgin Airlines, yesterday and he stated he was so tired of being at the mercy of fuel costs that he is contemplating building his own refinery. When asked where, he said he didn't know, but obviously 'not in the U.S.' Wonder why?[:@]
When the interviewer pointed out that he will still be at the mercy of crude prices, he shot back, "Refiners are making a bigger margin than airlines." Branson is definitely a guy that thinks outside the box.
To many factors involved and Bush is a very small one!!
But due to my personal daily involvement with paid pilots I don't put much stock in most of thier opinions!
nver have liked bush, never will. but to say he is the reason for thisis like blaming him for katrina. it is not his fault. the airlines have been in bad shape for years, and its not just recent fuel costs. anyone remember what happened to twa?
About 11 years ago, I bought a ticket 2 months in advance of my flight from Delta. Due to some unforseen things out of my control, my reason for the flight was changed until the following week end. I tried one month in advance of the flight to change the date of my ticket. All Delta could do for me was tell me they could change the date of the ticket, but to do so I had to pay the remaining balance of the full price fare. The problem was that I had bought my ticket at a promotional price, and the full price I would have had to pay was over $500.00 one way from Little Rock toLas Vegas. I had only paid about $180.00 for the original ticket. I was pretty furious, and after I hung up the phone with the ruthless people at Delta, I chunked the worthless Delta ticket in the garbage and became a Southwest Airlines customer.
Today I saw thatDelta is also filing chapter 11. I don't really see how you can blame it on Gas Prices or Bush.
C. Davis
__________________ Am I greedy because I don't want to give you what is mine?
or
Are you greedy because you want to take what is not yours?
Today I saw thatDelta is also filing chapter 11. I don't really see how you can blame it on Gas Prices or Bush.
C. Davis
Yep. And whattics me off is what may be next - a government bail out to "help the economy" or some such BS at the tax payers' expense. Yes. That's me and you.
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
Only in America can you file B/K sitting on $1.5 Billion cash!
Pilots are no different than any other segment of America. A great many of them suffer from BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome). This liberal affliction was discovered by former psychiartrist and now political observer Dr. Charles Krauthammer.
Krauthammer defines Bush Derangement Syndrome as the the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency -- nay -- the very existence of George W. Bush.
They blame everything from hurricanes to the airlines problems on GW. Logic be damned.
Northwest will likely dump their underfunded pension plan on the government plan. This will save them millions and the retired pilots will be the big losers. Many draw good retirements based on a lifetime of good earnings. Many draw $70k or more, but the government program caps retirements at something just over $40k.
BTW, there is currently no cure for BDS. [font="verdana"]But there is hope. There are many fine researchers seeking that cure. Your donation to the BDS Foundation, no matter how small, can help.
Mailing address: Republican National Committee, Washington DC, Attention: psychiatric department. Just make sure your amount does not exceed $2,000 ($4,000 for a married couple).
Neighbor NWA Pilot blames Bush
