I completely agree that public sector (i.e. government) unions are different animal compared to private sector unions and it's time for them to feel the wrath of fiscal responsibility.

...But here's the thing. The average American doesn't understand the difference and makes no distinction between the two. To them, a union is a union. Frankly, I think the same can be said about your average new Teaparty congressman. If the collective bargaining rights of public sector unions start falling like dominoes in numerous states, I can guarantee you that the next time a major airline has a protracted contract squabble and some newspaper writes a silly story about how Grandma's summer plane trip to visit the grandkids is in jeopardy, there will be a public groundswell demanding to know why pilots have collective bargaining rights. With the right folks in power after the 2012 elections and numerous precedents set in multiple states, they'd take away those rights in a heartbeat.....and the Average Joe Public would cheer mightily.



...as for the MD90s, we still haven't seen a new one hit the line since last summer. I'll start cheering when I see ship #9220 actually flying