A return to regulation?

[Fly4Pay]

As for where in the Constitution does it allow the government to do this, it's simple. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3, which states:

The Congress shall have the power...to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes

If the air transport system doesn't constitute commerce among the several states, I don't know what does.

Unfortunately, that's the clause that Congress has used throughout history to pretty much anything they feel like. It's hard to come up with any area of American life that some congressman somewhere hasn't decided affects "commerce."

 

[esa17]

Something IS being done--businesses that don't know how to run their business go out of business! That's the way that capitalism works--do a good job, or you're gone.

As it should be....

As painful as it might be such is the nature of the beast. In the long run thats better for everyone. We need to stop bailing out failing compaines and just let them die. Someone will take their place and that will strengthen the industry. I would really like to see a major market reset across the board so we can trim some of the fat and get back to making money.

Commercial air transport (for people...not boxes) is a luxury, not a right, not a necessity. Obviously we have to move "goods" in a large way somehow...I don't think boats are the best way in all cases.

I guess you don't remember the financial turmoil in the days following 9/11 when nothing could be delivered in a timely manner. Commercial aviation is VERY vital to our economy and without it our nations productivity would fall through the floor.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Ahh, but the difference is that my opinion of what the government is supposed to do is based on the Constitution, not what makes me feel good. Where in the Constitution does it say that the government is to "prevent the decimation of a vitally important industry"? Where does it say that the government is to prevent an industry from "imploding"?

So are you one of those people that believes the government can only do the things that are specifically outlined in the Constitution? In other words, no Department of Labor, no federal involvement in education, no EPA, etc...?

Commercial aviation isn't what drives the economy. Who ever told you that was

. Commercial air transport (for people...not boxes) is a luxury, not a right, not a necessity. Obviously we have to move "goods" in a large way somehow...I don't think boats are the best way in all cases.

People don't HAVE to travel over seas and there's no where except Hawaii in the US that you can't drive to...unless, of course, you already live in Hawaii...then you need a boat.

You can't possibly be thinking this one-dimensionally. Do you think Atlanta would be the business mecca that it is if it were not for Mayor Hartsfield making Atlanta the aviation capital of the country? Commercial aviation expands economies exponentially. The Atlanta airport is estimated to add $19 billion to the Atlanta economy every single year. Remove the airlines, the economy collapses.

 

[tonyw]

Unfortunately, that's the clause that Congress has used throughout history to pretty much anything they feel like. It's hard to come up with any area of American life that some congressman somewhere hasn't decided affects "commerce."

Don't you think that air transport is commerce between the states? Seriously, you've got passengers and cargo coming from one state, going to another state, and the cycle going on the live long day.

If that ain't interstate commerce I don't know what is.

I think the worm has turned when it comes to deregulation. Even folks like Hank Paulson are talking about how there needs to be more regulation of businesses.

The implosion of Bear Stearns seems to have woken them up. Keep in mind Bear Stearns survived the Great Depression without a single layoff as well as two world wars. And then they got too cute and started playing around with CDOs, and they imploded.

When something like that happens, you start to see people saying, whoa.

Besides, if we went with a regulated market for air transport, you'd see something you haven't seen in a long time for most airlines.

A long and steady stream of profits.