The problem with many many many many people I run into is that they lack hindsight, insight, and foresight on most issues that have a direct or indirect impact on society. They can't really develop their opinions for discussion. Folks consider discussion that is deep, an argument, therefore, they would rather watch sports, or have discussions that are mainly general and superficial. They pretty much regurgitate someone else's views, and don't know the where or how, or the why. They just can't see down that dark road what things will look like by making certain decisions now. Their brains just don't function that way...and that's sad, indeed. They allow others to make decsions, and if those making them sound really really good in their presentation, they're for it.
I agree... but the reality is that the vast majority of humanity doesn't think and in some ways it is worse in a democracy where everyone is free to express their ideas.
But there are plenty of intelligent people in the world who genuinely do have the perspective and knowledge to look at the world - but the simple fact is that none of us can be experts in more than one or at most two things in life.
We rely on others to help fill in the missing pieces that we cannot understand.
I value these boards and many of the people who participate in them because it provides the opportunity to connect w/ people who are thinkers. We have different perspectives but the number of people who have above average knowledge of the industry and the issues facing their company and their jobs specificially are above average compared to other airline employees or customers.
I know the business of aviation quite well but there are people on this board who know far more about certain aspects of the business that I will ever know - and they also have current insight at multiple points in the industry which I want to know and hear.
There are smart people on this board. I wouldn't underestimate the influence that anyone has here... and I would dare say that recognizing the contribution others make is the foundation from which they will accept or at least listen to what you say.
I don't agree.
It's not all about what is good for the investor, or the employees. At the end of this road (consolidation), and it surely will come, it won't be good for the flying public, or the industry employees, or the industry as a whole. Just good, for a short while for those executives who will put those cost savings and profits in their pockets, and then the hell with everything else. Who cares.
The measure of whether consolidation is good for the consumer or not is whether airlines become far more profitable than average American companies, whether airline employees and executives become far better compensated than other industries, and whether service deteriorates as a result of the consolidated marketplace.
So far, none of those factors is anywhere close to happening and based on some of the structural issues which airlines have to face, I doubt if they ever will happen.
While it is nice to think that executives of a public company - of which all US major airlines are - can benefit dramatically is just not even close to reality.
The top executives at any of the US airlines combined do not make more than a fraction of a percent of the total costs of that airline. The vast majority of even management are people who could easily make more money elsewhere - as could the executives themselves.
I'm not defending their salaries; I'm just saying what they make won't change the finances of the company one iota.
Parker can make "pie in the sky" promises to people who are desperate to be "saved", but the guy has no history of a sound business plan that offers any sustained performance. And, nobody really cares if its real or not...I believe that the DOT/DOJ are much smarter than that...and look at the "consolidation" mre objectively; not having any real stake on who can make a profit, but rather, what is the...
greater good for the public and industry .
The DOT/DOJ will measure a potential AA/US merger on the basis of what antitrust rules and the standards that have been applied to other recent mergers - that is the basis of case law, of which antitrust regulation is related.
We don't disagree that it will be essentially AA employees who will have to decide if they are really going to obtain their best outcome from a US merger, an AA standalone plan, or something else... and for the most part the media has basically considered the only options are one of the first two. I submit that there are alot of other valid options that AA's creditors and employees need to consider.
