Saturday, June 30, 2007
US Airways or is it all US Airlines?
While sitting in the Phoenix Airport on June 30, waiting for a flight to Edmonton, Alberta, I wrote about how the flight was delayed by an hour. A US Airways flight scheduled to Memphis was put into our gate, B16, before us. The check-in staff couldn't find the crew for the Memphis flight so they broadcasted a number of times asking for pilots Hunt and Smith. After a half hour of waiting the crew finally showed up. At the same time, the staff at check-in asked for volunteers to take a flight next day in exchange for a free flight anywhere in the lower 48. They were looking for 8 passengers for what they described as an over weight problem. (I assumed they had just overbooked.) Passengers on other flights were also being offered free trips. When they finally loaded, four passengers were left sitting without a flight. One of the check-in staff announced at one point, "I know you're frustrated. I'm feeling frustrated, too."
In the meantime, Edmonton passengers had to show their boarding passes and passports. We were told to wait closeby or we might not get on our flight. Finally after an hour and a half delay we boarded. No one was left behind. Our flight wasn't completely full.
I had assumed the other flights had overbooked. When I got on the plane, I visited with the stewardess who indicated that with temperatures close to 120 degrees planes have trouble getting enough lift if they are over a certain weight. I also learned that flight crews can only fly something like 100 hours a month. By the end of the month airlines have difficulty finding crews to cover all flights.
In the meantime, Edmonton passengers had to show their boarding passes and passports. We were told to wait closeby or we might not get on our flight. Finally after an hour and a half delay we boarded. No one was left behind. Our flight wasn't completely full.
I had assumed the other flights had overbooked. When I got on the plane, I visited with the stewardess who indicated that with temperatures close to 120 degrees planes have trouble getting enough lift if they are over a certain weight. I also learned that flight crews can only fly something like 100 hours a month. By the end of the month airlines have difficulty finding crews to cover all flights.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Immigration debate in Senate
Today I sent the following message to my Senators. I hope you will consider doing the same.
Over the past few weeks I have phoned your office several times about the immigration reform debate. Recently I have been made aware that the immigration reform bill (S. 1348) has been reintroduced under a new bill number, S 1639. Introduced by Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, S. 1639 contains all the same provisions that I was opposed to in S. 1348. Namely, S. 1639 would:
- Create the Z visa which would place millions of illegal immigrants on a path toward citizenship
- Establish an enhanced guestworker program that would displace American workers
- Call for the acceleration of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America - an agenda backed by President Bush that would eventually merge the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, into a common "North American Community"
I hope that you will express your opposition to this Senate bill and any other legislation that would promote and/or provide amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. We have legislation in place that would keep illegal immigrants from crossing into our country. We should enforce the current legislation.
Thanks, John
Over the past few weeks I have phoned your office several times about the immigration reform debate. Recently I have been made aware that the immigration reform bill (S. 1348) has been reintroduced under a new bill number, S 1639. Introduced by Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, S. 1639 contains all the same provisions that I was opposed to in S. 1348. Namely, S. 1639 would:
- Create the Z visa which would place millions of illegal immigrants on a path toward citizenship
- Establish an enhanced guestworker program that would displace American workers
- Call for the acceleration of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America - an agenda backed by President Bush that would eventually merge the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, into a common "North American Community"
I hope that you will express your opposition to this Senate bill and any other legislation that would promote and/or provide amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. We have legislation in place that would keep illegal immigrants from crossing into our country. We should enforce the current legislation.
Thanks, John
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Media are setting the election agenda
One of the consequences of deregulation during the Reagan administration was getting rid of the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine required that all candidates get equal time in the broadcast media. Abolishing the Fairness Doctrine has had several consequences: one is that "fringe" candidates do not get a fair hearing in the media. Another is that no longer is the media required to cover all points of view and so advertising and election costs have proliferated in order to get the message across. And the richest campaigns get the biggest say in the media.
I listened today to several reports about the Democratic and Republican presidential debates over the past two days. The reports rehashed the same lines from the major candidates - John Edwards attacking Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney defending their position on the war. (After each debate Mitt Romney is discounted because of religion.) Only Tom Tancredo got into the major news when he said he wouldn't let Bush come to his White House. (Karl Rove had once told him to "never darken the door of the White House.") The media claim it's unfair that "fringe" candidates should share the stage with the popular candidates.
After a debate several weeks ago Fox News urged viewers to vote for the winning debater. When they realized Ron Paul was winning, suddenly Sean Hannity pointed out the poll was non-scientific. Ron Paul's success was a problem for Fox, because most of their post-debate coverage focused on him being an inconsequential loon. This despite that fact that many people seem to think that Ron Paul is the only person who makes sense.
Maybe it's because the chosen few have the highest rankings in the polls or because they share mainstream ideas or have the most money. But whatever the reason, the media are setting the agenda for the 2008 elections. They have already narrowed down who should win the popularity contest, regardless of ideas expressed by other candidates.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Big business wants a guest worker bill and EU style government in North America
Tonight (June 4th) CNN's Glenn Beck said government won't "seal the borders," because government and global corporations want an EU style North America. He said fences won't be built because fences hurt business.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post says that immigration bill backers "believe that the voices of opposition, especially from conservatives, represent a small segment of public opinion." See the story "Backers of Immigration Bill More Optimistic" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/03/AR2007060301455.html?sub=AR.
Glenn Beck disagrees with this assessment. He says the American people are angry and need to let their representatives know that they want the borders sealed.
David Bacon earlier this year in two stories described how corporations are pushing immigration legislation. They want a guest worker bill rather than a bill that emphasizes family reunification. And that outlines fairly well the proposal put forward in the Senate by McCain and Kennedy. Later this year the Censored Project will likely name this issue of corporate pressure for a worker bill again as one of the stories major media have not covered. Business wants any immigration law to favor business, not to represent the national interest. See http://www.projectcensored.org/censored_2006/index.htm.
Glenn Beck says global business wants an EU style government in North America, not borders that protect our national security. This, however, is a story that is not likely to be broadly covered by the major media.
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