You're leaving out a few facts there. In addition to the seniority system, we were all hired under age 60 something that has quite a bit to do with the potential to be a senior Captain one day. However now a few people who quietly and obediently benefited from said system for quite some time want to change the rules before it's their turn to go and it's the junior guys who need a lesson in what's fair? Please. 55 was never the legal age so that's a non sequitur b/c no one could reasonably expect people to retire then just like early medicals. As far as the determine your own future stuff that won't happen in a capital intensive government regulated industry-ie the business we've chosen. We can however help do a magnificent job of shooting ourselves in the foot and then spend the next 30 years complaining about our mistake(s). We are well on way to that. This issue won't be solved here, but it ain't gonna blow over either despite what the calamari club in Herndon thinks.