So following her logic, Southwest Airlines, jetBlue Airlines, Alaska, and Spirit Airlines don't directly COMPETE with Delta, United, or American.

I wonder if the management of those Airlines would agree that they don't directly COMPETE with the big three.

Does IGA directly compete with Kroger, Publics, and/or Walmart? Does Geico directly compete with State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive? Does Kia directly compete with Ford, GM, Toyota, and Chrysler? Does the neighborhood drug store directly compete with CVS, Walgreens, or RiteAid?

Apparently not, if we use the logic from Senior Mediator, Pat Simms.

But it's not hard to fathom the idea that a GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE may not understand the concept of "competition".