If there is an agreement that benefits the current pilots of Delta, it will be hard for the majority to not vote it in. If an agreement of '50 confirmed 787's with 10 CRJ-1000's or EMB-190's to be operated by Delta Connection' is shot across the bow, it will be awful hard to convince the entire pilot group that a "no" vote is proper (Delta Connection carriers already operate EMB-170's and CRJ-705's), especially if there is a pay raise thrown into the equation. And, naturally, if the pilots are voting on it, it's likely already been 'endorsed' by the DALPA MEC. Pilots (like every other voter) have always voted out of self-interest. DALPA didn't give away 50% of the flights on purpose over the last 15 years, but it happened.

This same pursuit of short-term gains at the expense of long-term goals is pervasive in our society - look no further than Wall Street's focus on quarterly and annual earnings.

It's tough to see the forest these days when the trees look SO darn' good.