Hear, hear!! They deliberately created a situation that put someone else on the spot, rather than making any sacrifice themselves. A better response would have been to substitute a bigger aircraft. Seems like a modest and reasonable thing to ask, considering all the money airlines have received from taxpayers.

The episode reminds me of companies that hit customers up for donations at the checkout and then hand the big check to Jerry (or whomever) as if they were doing the giving. Or eBay's disastrous "Auction for America" that made sellers pick up postage costs and conveniently excluded a competing payment service they were trying to squeeze (but ended up later buying).

And since we're on the topic of sacrifices, it would be useful to ask those on the political right what sacrifices THEY themselves are currently making for the war on terrorism. I sure don't see many.

Give up the gas guzzler, press for tougher fuel standards or reduce fuel consumption in any way? Nope - try to drill our way out and make nice with Saudi Arabia (home of 15 of the 19 hijackers and lots of their financial support).

Forgo tax cuts? Nope..the $87 billion+ goes on top of $400 billion deficits and will be paid by children and grandchildren, not you. Seems like we're leaving it to the military and reservists to make the sacrifices.

Oh, but we'll wave flags, call the Dixie Chicks traitors and take off our shoes going through the metal detector. It IS the least we can do.



[This message has been edited by RustyC (edited 11-08-2003).]