Everyone would go if it “worked for their family”.

Destroying your disposable income to pay socialism taxes doesn’t work for many people’s families.


Everyone that lives in Europe with money can trace it right back to the end of WW2.

Everyone that hasn’t inherited well from their post WW2 grandparents making smart decisions, just exist with some take home Euros, that can never build wealth so they just travel intra Europe or buy something large like a PS5 or new iPhone.

Owning a boat or RV there is like owning a Robinson 44 helicopter in the USA, even if you don’t want a boat or RV you don’t want to lose the purchasing power.

Europe is cool and neat, so is driving a Corvette in high school. If you’re not paying for keep on driving it.

Not so cool and neat to stay at Macdonalds for the rest of your life kicking off your future earnings because your stuck paying for your high school Corvette.

 

The majority of older captains I flew with were the ones on their phone during cruise (or even while taxiing)! Completely checked out. No “mentoring” going on.

 

The vast majority of people in this country can barely afford to buy a new iPhone or PS5 so stop making it sound like we are all just rolling in cash right now. Also, I love how you talk down about them *just* traveling intra Europe like it's the equivalent of just vacationing to Branson every year. Europe is one of us most culturally dense places on this planet. Ever talked to a service member who is stationed in Europe? Every weekend they are visiting a different country. How many of them take leave so they can go visit Mr Rushmore? Zero. Your argument is absurd

My spouse could easily take a job in Europe. Easily. But I don't want to commute from Europe or resign my seniority. If I had a middle management job somewhere, we'd absolutely jump at the opportunity. Every one she works with that has worked in Europe is clamoring to go back. It's ultra competitive.

 

That was civil.

 

With ALPA signed contracts.

 

I have, and everyone has had a check from the VA, or retirement, or tri care, or a paycheck from Uncle Sam.

Being a British solider getting paid in Pound Sterling being stationed all over the world was the best deal in the history of military for like 300 years. People paid for those careers.

Never met any soldier that spent time in Europe got out and went back for a blue color, pink color, grey color or white color European job with 0 American strings attached.

Never met anyone that didn’t start with American wealth and privilege then transfer to Europe and say how much better it is.

Do you know American service members that got out and went to work for Airbus as a white color professional, or enlisted troops that become an electrician or pipe fitter in Europe and raves about it?

Europe is fantastic as long as you can tap American resources.

Europe is mediocre if you are restricted to
European resources.

Renting a flat with exposed plumbing is not quite satisfying when your friends in America are paying off their mortgage and putting in a swimming pool, but you can always go get a pint, and see something 500 years old or more, that is also available to Americans throughout their lives.

 

The only thing "urgent" for this "imminent" legislation is the need for cash to continue the grift. No imminent pilot shortage, no urgency for legislation. There is only a need to keep the money flowing. A few politicians and lobbyists have found a niche funding source of mid 6 figure earners that continually refreshes as previous donors who realize they've been scammed are too old to care.

 

If any of the leadership at LEPF/EPAS actually had a backbone, they'd each resign from ALPA and start sporting pins/stickers from their new friends at places like the RAA. I bet the Regional Airline Association is thrilled to have such a staunch ally supporting them in their mission to stop paying all of those pilot bonuses and to grow their B-scale wage airlines at the expense of mainline jobs. If anyone in the leadership of the grifting LEPF wonders why the rest of us consider them to be categorized in the same ballpark as scabs, then they're more out-to-lunch than I even realized. If Flying the Line, Vol 3 is ever written, the anti-union/my goal at all costs mentality of this group will appropriately memorialize their place in industry history.

 

The ones with the loudest opinions of what a union should be are the ones trying to destroy it. They rationalize it by claiming it’s no longer a union. Just like the mental gymnastics done to rationalize LEPF efforts not being a money grab.

They forget that 95% of union actions have been positive for their careers. Some of their comments on the EPAS facebook are pretty extreme on this. More than one has hoped ALPA is burned to the ground after their billion dollar lawsuit bankrupts it.

I would say wanting to destroy a union is worse than crossing a picket line.

 

Very true. I used to hear similar rationalizations of anti-union behavior when flying with scabs. "The union failed me." "The union didn't represent my viewpoint." "I had medical bills to pay." Just like then, those tripping over themselves to explain why it's ok "this time" for them to be behaving in such a detestable, anti-union manner, are simply trying to justify their actions in their own head. The rest of us don't buy the pathetic excuses.