Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
We all know about the legalized prostitution of our White House and Congress. Since they'll always be addicted to the "clients" who pay them the most, the focus on politicians is a waste of time. If we are to stop foreign airlines from operating the US air transportation system, we have to stop trying to buy more politicians than they do. We can't cutoff the Middle East's financing of our politicians, but we can cutoff Boeing's financing of our politicians.
This is one issue where airline management and airline labor interests align. The Middle East airlines are buying Boeing aircraft under the overt proviso that they will be granted access to US markets as a result. If they get that access, it will likely eliminate a number of US airlines. The same US airlines that made Boeing the success they are today. Now Boeing is working to cut our collective throats to increase sales. US airline management and labor needs to join forces and state that all US airlines will boycott the purchase of Boeing aircraft unless Boeing agrees to stop their lavish spending on and arm twisting of politicians to allow foreign access to our markets.
Boeing doesn't care who actually runs our air transportation system because they've calculated they will still be the largest provider of aircraft to whoever ultimately survives. Management and labor need to show Boeing they've calculated wrong...and give them a huge public relations black eye in the process. Thoughts?
Carl
"a capitalist will sell you the rope that will be used to hang him"
The above quote is from memory, so it might be off a little, but it is a condensed version of your post.
This is our system and how it works. As the limits that came to be (largely due to the great economic crash and ensuing world catastrophe of WWII) from the 30's through the 60's are dismantled one by one, the protections that pilots have had from overseas competition will probably suffer the same fate that most other workers already have.
Most people I know are very supportive of this system and will react vehemently at any suggestion of reining it in. (even as they bemoan the fact that they can't make ends meet with his job at BassPro and his wife's job at Wallmart....and both of their employers subsidized from their property taxes)
There will be no public outcry, as we have come to accept that worker drones are to be sacrificed in the name of the free market. (besides, thoseairline jerks should finally be made to live like the rest of us, overpaid bus drivers and all)
The airlines themselves wil buy the airplanes from the manufacturer that gives them the best deal/mission capable product. If it is Boeing, they will buy from Boeing no matter what. There will be no boycott as that would imply both a long term vision and a short term interuption of the present gravy train(for senior Mgmt and institutional shareholders such as hedge funds)
Carl, while you are correct on the threat, without a sea-change in public attitudes we are bystanders and can only hope that these 3 ave bit off more than they can chew and it will overwhelm them.
As an aside, I see ALPA magazine just did a short mention of the US Merchant Marine fleet and it's demise as a world player. I have been citing what happened to them for at least 20 years, maybe 25.(also how they handled the training and certification of officers and ONE list of officers and sailors) Only as the threat looms closer to us, do we finally consider what we have been supporting for the last 30 plus years.
Sorry for the ramble, but the above doesn't even scratch the surface as to how deep the problem(s) are and how precarious is our collective economic future.