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Bad news: according to an Associated Press article (via the New York Times), major legislation to help fix our antiquated air traffic control system and provide some “real” passenger rights “faltered” yesterday, and it may be doomed. And Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), who heads the Senate’s commerce aviation subcommittee found that incredibly frustrating:
Keep reading, and I’ll try to explain what happened and why we should get angry. |
Here’s one reason to get angry: this legislation could have prevented the American Airlines mess of a few weeks back, when more than 1,000 flights were cancelled because the FAA had to do those “missed inspections” all at once. According to the article, “the legislation would also have required FAA inspectors to verify that airlines carry out required safety checks.”
What happened? The usual. Some senators started piling on amendments that had little to do with aviation, then others demanded they be allowed to add amendments, and then it all started to fall apart, and the debate was halted. It could still be resurrected, but people wiser to the ways of Congress than I, doubt that’ll happen — this year, anyway.
What a shame.
Congress deregulated the airlines with the myth of better passenger service and fares.
Where’s the accountability? So we had a bill for a Passenger Bill of Rights and it was smothered in special interest amendments, Vote down the bill and make public the Congressional members who considered “pork” more important than the public.
Propose new legislation and threaten to shed light on anything and anyone who deviated from the the issue.
McCain, Clinton, Obama? Are you paying attention?
Comment by Cigar Jon — May 14, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Our government is “broken” - and it’s not the system, it’s the people in it. We’ve now gone almost 40 years with no energy plan, no fix for social security and a tax code that works for nobody - but those idiots in Washington!
We would be better off to throw them all out and start over than we would keeping the some ones in office that are already there. The only thing they care about is their jobs, their fat, unearned paycheck and pension plan, their bloated expense accounts and their gigantic egos.
150 years ago Alexis DeTocqueville said The American Republic will endure until the politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money. We’ve mpore than reached that point. In Washington, at least, patriotism is dead!
Comment by Craig Cochran — May 15, 2008 @ 12:04 am
When we realize more people vote each week for American Idol than in our country’s elections, it should come as no surprise that we get the government we deserve.
Comment by Russell — May 15, 2008 @ 12:52 am
A service as VITAL as airline travel… so difficult to believe that it is so primitive in its policies and customer service/s. There are those who MUST travel (business) and I think they’d be more refreshed if they were able to get to their destination on either a camel or a rickshaw.
It says alot when a bill is trashed that would’ve given support to stranded passengers. It says ALOT !!
Comment by Philip Curcio — May 15, 2008 @ 4:27 am
While I appreciate your statement, Craig, and agree with the opinion completely, the actual statement was:
“The American Republic will endure until the people realize they can vote themselves money.”
Unfortunately, that happened quite a few years ago as well, just as you said. There ARE a great number of people who determine their vote in any election from local right on up to national based upon who will give them the most…NOT on what is best for the locality/nation. so sad!!!
Possibly the only elections that are now based on what is “best” are school board elections…at least those votes aren’t based on selfishness. heh heh!!
Comment by Amy M. — May 15, 2008 @ 6:58 am
Right on Craig Cochran. We have allowed our government to be filled with Gangsters without morals. I guess when the henhouse is left unguarded the result is predictable. After a good cry, we need to examine ourselves for allowing this to happen….
Comment by Dave L — May 15, 2008 @ 7:50 am
why would they change anything –they do not travel like the rest of us they have their own planes– id like to see just one senator on the floor sleeping with his /her children in an airport!
Comment by nancy — May 15, 2008 @ 9:35 am
I don’t know enough about the legislation to comment, but my experience with legislation generally is that when the government decides to “mandate” something, it generally results in higher costs for consumers some way or another. In the case of “Passenger Rights” the worry would be that we would be essentially “buying insurance” against some bad but infrequent problems by paying more for all of our flights.
Comment by Jeanne Broad — May 15, 2008 @ 9:36 am
this is a terrible blow to all.-if the people in govt had to travel and suffere like us things would change.the couple who do get gaught have no care or influance anyway.surely if all those who flew could sign into one website to sign a petition to change things the govt would have to listen? why can we as fliers from around the world not seem to get together and do this. there is not a flight that i am on where i have not spoken up for my fellow travellers rights and had to help them;(i do do it with charm and a smile but ) but the crew can/ have / just horrible threaths to telling people they/or i shall be arrested.it is pathetic that regularly no other passenger helps another because they fly in fear of what they percieve can happen to them for just asking for water “please”-to being deprived of the use of the tiolet. ———————————–now with this case of a passenger being put on a tiolet for an entire flight why did no on speak up for that person?-it is sad and pathetic days we live in.
Comment by richard — May 15, 2008 @ 9:41 am
I agreee with Craig in that we need to get rid of many of those that think of only themselves. Why is it impossible for them to vote on the issue at hand instead of adding on things that add no value to anyone’s lives and cost us all money… to say “look what I got for you”, remember the Alaska bridge to nowhere.
It is time for a real change. Do things that improve our lives. After the gulf war there should have been an energy plan now we are in trouble big time and there end is not near.
This is when I am glad I have no children to inherit this mess that is being made by those who will not live long enough to see the effects so hence why should they care about us… the younger generation.
Comment by Oliver — May 15, 2008 @ 11:24 am