The public doesn't care about the pilots. They care about travelocity airfare searches sorted by cheapest flight.

The managements job is to get the most work out of pilots for the least amount of money. They screw with your schedule, lower your pay & benefits, but as long as we are still "professional" they will see an opportunity to abuse you a little more. How far are you willing to be pushed before you let things slide a little?

At a certain point, you will start to not care as much anymore. As a junior shiny-jet FO, you will soon realize this.

I think all pilots should show up to work wearing the clothing from the second job they have to hold to make ends meet. Then when the kids see the pilot dressed in his McDonalds uniform, they will say "dang, I don't want to be a pilot like that fool". In a decade or so, we will be a valuable commodity again.