I didn't try to nail you and I don't understand how wanting a fourth stripe is a bad thing. I sure did when I was a first officer. As for the rest, I guess I can only say you are just wrong. I don't try to make excuses on why we should not recapture this flying. I am pretty sure that I have spent a lot more time thinking about a real path to get this done and have tried to get the ball rolling at the levels I can. You think I bring up the difficulties to say it can't be done but I bring up the difficulties because we have to find a way to get there.

There are many problems and it will be difficult. You think you can just wave a magic scope wand at this problem and it will go away. If you want to hide behind the "I'm just labor" excuse, fine, but don't expect any results. My guess is you just want to vent and "write your reps" and have someone else solve the problem. That's fine, but don't tar me with that label. Real solutions take real work.

Oh and by the way, AMR is getting rid of more MD-80's than they are getting replacements so your example is a bad one. They are shrinking mainline hulls this year. Lot's of guys retiring but not many getting recalled.