Yes, and everyone else didn't try. It's not like we have had to deal with 9/11, a clueless management team, a deep recession, a hostile labor environment in Washington, two wars, doubling then tripling then quadrupling of fuel prices, the rise of LCC's, bankruptcy, a hostile takeover attempt, a merger, and now a deeper recession. I am probably leaving out a few things too. If you think it is because a lack of trying then you really have a very short time frame before you need to have results. I mean, if you try really, really hard, then I should be making a million or more in a few months, right. If you think better scope could have prevented this whole mess then you are laughably lacking in any strategic direction.

The fact is, you have no idea how hard it has been but you may soon find out. You guys are laser focused on your own belly buttons about scope and you may soon find out how much bigger the world is. I have seen this at countless pilot groups, you have some focused, single issue complainers get themselves elected by firing up a committed base, and then they start to wallow in the reality of the world. It is much more fun to sit on the sidelines and throw pies than it is to have to actually make something happen.

My guess is you have about a year before the pies start flying in your direction. Usually, the MEC then turns into a circular firing squad as we move into the blame game. You don't have to look to far to find a perfect example of this right now. If you play it right, you can have the pilot group fractured and infighting just in time for Section 6 negotiations to start. Hopefully, you will avert your gaze from your belly button and realize that these issues can't be solved by "trying real hard". Maybe you will come to understand how MEC's naturally are dysfunctional and it takes great effort to keep the team together, and that in and of itself is one of the most important things a leader can do.

I guess this battle weary group will just have to limp off and be satisfied with the fact that no one else came close to coming through this mess as well as we did. You can try to slough this off as lack of effort or lack of vision but you have no idea how tough it has been. Good luck, I am getting my pies ready.