Originally Posted by
dragon
Most of the above mentioned posts will probably be redacted because they will be perceived as political. However, discussing things that directly affect the economy and our well being as professional pilots is I think germane.
We can't hide our head in the sand and pretend that what goes on in Washington, or London or Paris (can't remember where the darn EU is headquartered) doesn't impact us. Delta just announced new fees (surcharges) to counter the lunacy of carbon offsets and the Chinese are asking the EU to reconsider - read change your mind or we will call your debts due!
I was just thinking that maybe all of this funk we're feeling is a resurgence of the 70's era National Malaise.
You don't have to go all the way back to the 70's. Look at what happened in 1992. 20 years ago this year.
Rembember the Gramm-Rudman act?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm%E...ced_Budget_Act
Congress cut the military budget and closed a whole bunch of active duty bases. I was at Pease AFB (NH) when they closed it. Shortly thereafter two malls and 5 car dealerships located near the front gate went bankrupt, the local housing market crashed. Sound familiar?
All that wasted "Military Spending" money was actually being recycled, going from the tax payers, to Uncle Sam, on to our Airmen, and right back into the local economy, which was going right back to those same tax payers, who were complaing about the Miltary Budget.
So, what really happens when they cut Defense Spending?
Amercans become unemployed.
Unemployed Americans don't buy Airline tickets, at any price.
Anyone remember when Delta did it's first ever furlough?
1993, right after all the base closures.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Turns out War is good for American Business. Ask anyone at Haliburton.
But where would you rather have your tax dollars go? To support the education of, and employment of, a rather large miltary complex, which in turn creates millions of civilian jobs?
Or directly to Welfare Recipients, the same people who were laid off by the budget cuts...
I'd rather my tax dollars were spent on their pay checks, than their welfare checks.