Originally Posted by alfaromeo

Now I don't want to shock you, but sometimes political decisions are influenced by money, power, influence, and a variety of other factors that have nothing to do with what is the optimum solution. I know, we should all go watch "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" to wipe the bad smell off this fact but it is a fact.

The legislation that set this review in process contained an exception clause for lower limits from authorized training. That exception was put into the legislation for a specific reason and by the urging of outside parties that are influencing political decisions with money, power, influence, and other factors. You may not like it, but you can either overthrow the government and set up your own perfect way of governing or you can deal with the world as it exists. You say ALPA's problems are because they deal with the world as it exists.

In this process, there is going to be some carve out for authorized training. If you don't believe that, then you must believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. If you want to affect how that carve out will end up, you have to be in the room to the end. Otherwise, those people with more money, more power, and more influence will have all the say. You will have preserved your right to stand on the outside and throw rocks at the outcome, but you will have to accept that outcome just the same.

Now, Capt. Sullenburger, and the families of the Colgan flight, and many outside parties have the luxury to act indignant and stand on the outside and throw rocks. To a lesser extent, CAPA also has that luxury. They have that luxury because they know that ALPA will continue to fight for what is right, but will stay in the room and will be affecting the outcome all the way to the end, even if they have to compromise (gasp) because they are surrounded by people that have more money, more power, and more influence. The fact that we are even in the room at all, is a testament to the power of ALPA that they have gained by maintaining their credibility within the FAA and the government because they never take the quick easy step of standing on the outside and throwing rocks.

So I have to laugh at all the people who are on this webboard who have the luxury to sit on the outside and throw rocks at everyone including ALPA, because they will never have to live with the consequences of their bonehead ideas. They know that there will be other people, who instead of sitting on the sidelines and booing, actually get into the game and make a difference. So all you sideline warriors can boo and shout and call the quarterback a dunce, but until you get under center and take a few snaps, your opinion has little meaning.

I am sorry that ALPA does not have the money, power, and influence to remold the world in the way you would like. However, due to the continued hard work of the people who get in the game, they will continue to have affect far beyond what our money, power, and influence should actually allow. The webboard warriors will continue to laugh and them and call them names, but you are just armchair quarterbacks who do not get into the game. I have no interest in engaging the type of back and forth that is going on here, so Carl have your dunce-like comments in peace, but I wrote this for any normal people who may have waded through the pages of drivel here and perhaps would like a real world explanation of why compromise sucks but it is the only path in an imperfect world.

If only I were elected Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe, I would fix everything just the way it should be. Election day is Tuesday, vote early and often.