Say Anything Blog

This is a good post, Proof.  It’s often easy, even for we conservatives, to go after government for what seems like exorbitant and/or unnecessary spending but often what’s lacking from that criticism is context.

Probably something we should all keep in mind.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

“The catering truck that delivers the meal, that’s probably 100 bucks every time it touches the airplane,” said Michael Boyd, an aviation analyst and the president of the Boyd Group, an industry consulting company. “The costs are obscenely expensive.” To provide meals, airlines have paid for longer turnaround times at gates, extra weight, galley ovens—even special coffee makers at $10,000 apiece.

This is a good post, Proof.  It’s often easy, even for we conservatives, to go after government for what seems like exorbitant and/or unnecessary spending but often what’s lacking from that criticism is context.

There’s no context needed here. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of services who would provide it cheaper. Whether it be airline or gov’t, laziness is not an excuse for overspending.

Obama/Biden is not change. It’s more of the same.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of services who would provide it cheaper

I think if that were true, the airlines who clearly are not in favor of losing money, would avail themselves of those goods and services. Remember that whoever provides those services would have to perform promptly, in large volume, in a high security environment, nationwide. If I come to United or Southwest and bid on providing food service to every plane they fly, cost is not the only consideration. If I can’t convince them that I can service those planes at least as fast or faster than the service they’re using now, they could be looking at delayed flights, which directly effects their core business.

* The average meal cost the large airlines an average of about $3.50 per passenger last year and $6 per passenger in the early 1990s, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. It adds up. In October 2007 alone, nearly 64.5 million passengers boarded domestic flights.

* American Airlines said in 2005 that it would save $30 million a year by eliminating the remaining free food in coach.

* Southwest, of peanuts-only fame, still spent $17.1 million on food and drinks in 2002.

* In 2005, US Airways said cutting pretzel packets would save the airline $1 million annually. Northwest Airlines announced it would do the same and save $2 million. United Airlines cut pretzel mixes from short flights for $650,000 in savings.

The airlines have demonstrated a desire to cut costs. Any company that could demonstrate they could do the job better or cheaper would have a hearing at any airline in the US.

Trolls. It’s what’s for breakfast!
And then I eat their lunch.

My only objection to “drinks only” flights from a business perspective is this; when I’ve flown one, it’s amazing how long the bathroom lines are.  I would suspect that they’re getting a few bucks back on the snack/meal, but paying it right back in that blue gunk that goes through the potties.  Put gently, a sandwich does a lot of good to hold the Mountain Dew in until you get to your destination.

(you know why Mountain Dew goes through you quicker than coffee, right?  It doesn’t have to stop to change color!)