We end up argueing over words but don't define what the word means. We say that the airline industry is "de-regulated." But it never really was. The regulations were changed, but it certainly isn't "de-regulated." If it were, then you would see (as Milky mentioned) about the right amount of airlines and pilot positions. It would be, as Smith spoke of, the "invisible hand." Some-how it just works... "France gets fed." It is called capitalism. But what we are arguing about is not capitalism; "free market capitilists" did not bail out CAL and friends. Just because you are a buisnessman doesn't make you capatilist. In fact, is is usually the big buisnesses that prefer governement intervention to keep out the small guy. They are modern day Whigs.

Regulation or "de" regulation are just different flavors of corpratism; corporate and government partnership.

If we keep going down that road then we will get more of the same....