jc73drvr, I thought your "rant" is very informative, very familiar, and I somehow believe you have dealt with this first hand or have a close friend who is "living the nightmare" rather than "living the dream". You have some excellent ideas as well. At the present time I am an Inactive Member in good standing but when ever I return to work I think I will echo your ideas as loud as I can. I am a proud ALPA member and its not a perfect organization but what is. I am pi$$ed they cut off my magazine subscription. They said I could buy one at a discount though... Well if I was working I could pay for it intead of getting it for free!!! And while I am at it, does anybody remember the brochure they gave us in Flight School? You know, the one showing the beachfront condos, free beer and dancing girls? Man, I want my money back. In twenty five years I have not seen any of that!!!! Although, in Shanghai, beer is very cheap and so is the 20 year old smoking hot hooker drinking them with you... Thats what hear anyway. Ciao, L