Anything But Fix the Problem

October 20, 2002

by Christopher G. Adamo

In most industries, a decline in profits necessitates changes in business practices to make the product more attractive to consumers. Any other approach only serves to guarantee a continuation of the decline, followed by eventual collapse. Why then, is this simple lesson proving to be completely beyond the understanding of this nation’s airline industry?

In the immediate wake of 9/11 airlines sought and received enormous subsidies from the federal government, in most cases with the blessings of the American people. Unfortunately, industry leaders misread the meaning of the public mood, which was to shore up America’s infrastructure as quickly as possible, in order to minimize the effects of the attacks. Public support of the airlines did not, however, constitute a willingness to ignore problems in air travel that had plagued major carriers even before the terrorist attacks. Monies were dispensed with the expectations that the airlines would seek to improve and correct their deficiencies. What the public got was something else altogether.

Particularly in the area of airline security, actions that were undertaken as “solutions” have proven instead to be absolutely ineffective, while resulting in a veritable nightmare for passengers. Instead of simply arming pilots, increasingly stringent policies have effectively made law-abiding passengers even more defenseless than they were previously. Have any of the decision makers expressed even the slightest interest in knowing if passengers would prefer to fly with pilots who have handguns in the cockpit, or with those who are completely unarmed, and thus vulnerable to a terrorist with merely a pocketknife? And does anyone even need to ask which ones the terrorists prefer?

Airport screeners, rather than being trained and held accountable for their performance, have been federalized, which merely adds significant cost to the price of a ticket. Since virtually the same individuals are now employed as screeners as was the case prior to federalization, no increase in skill has resulted from the change. However, the significant upgrade in authority that resulted from being reclassified as federal law enforcement officers has transformed many of these individuals into little despots who regularly harass and threaten decent citizens. And if the philosophies of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta are any indication, sensitivity training undertaken by these airport security commissars will most likely focus on how to ensure that the next cadre of Islamic terrorists don’t feel they are being unfairly "profiled" when passing through the airport gates.

Americans are responding to all of this. In droves, they are abandoning air travel for short and medium range excursions, opting instead to make such trips by road. And this situation only promises to worsen until obvious fixes are implemented. So, what is the airline industry’s response to the $7 billion that it is likely to lose this year as a result of increased costs and less appealing service? Unlike virtually all other industries, airlines have been resorting to what is standard operating procedure for such entities as the postal service and educational establishment. Instead of considering customer sentiments, they are looking to government for continued subsidies.

But why are they apparently so determined to avoid, at all cost, obvious and commonsensical approaches to correcting their situation? Perhaps the best explanation for such counterproductive reasoning is the way things are done in Washington. For example: As wife of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D. SD), airline industry lobbyist Linda Daschle holds a position which, were she and her husband Republicans, would be considered a clear conflict of interest. Yet, with the brazen audacity that has defined Democrat politics in recent years, she continues to represent the supposed interests of the big air carriers. But is that where her true sympathies lie? Airlines that are operating with good profit margins and in harmony with regulators don’t have nearly the need for the services of lobbyists as when burgeoning federal entanglements threaten their very existence.

Recently, it was disclosed that airlines have collectively spent in excess of $27 million on lobbying efforts from the beginning of last year to date (not to mention the doubling of political “contributions” in recent years). Clearly, such a relationship places the cares of customers far beneath the interests of power brokers within the industry and in Washington. Ultimately though, neither the airlines nor Congress can force citizens to use the airways against their will. Whether or not they will be forced to continue footing the bill for this ruse is another question.

_________________________________________

Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming with his wife and sons. He has been involved in grassroots political activity for many years. Chris was the editor of the Wyoming Christian from 1994 to 1996, and his columns can also been seen at CheyenneNetwork.com.

Send the author an E mail at Adamo@ConservativeTruth.org.

For more of Christopher's articles, visit his archives.