[nathanbedford]

Thank God, the turn is at hand.

Whenever left wing political pundits despair, we can mortgage the farm and plunge because we are on the way home.

[garbanzo]

The Federal Reserve Bank, which cut its interest rates last week to 45-year lows, so far has been unable to revive activity even as the cost of borrowing approaches zero.

We've reached the flat part of the demand-price curve and the Federal Reserve knows it but has to look like its doing something.

There are a couple of options - increase foreign consumption (however much of the oversupply is global). Or allow for contraction. Neither will be implemented because of the political considerations.

[xrp]

Airlines these days fill little more than half the seats on their planes, leaving hundreds of the world's aircraft sitting idle.

I've flown on airliners over 10 times since 4/1/2003 and each time I've flown, the flight has been full or near full. The only exception was a quick hop from LAX to Las Vegas when the SouthWest airlines (not asking for bailout money) airplane was about 1/3 full.

[Iris7]

The economic situation follows the Mises-Hayek Austrian model exactly. This current situation is the result of many decades of improper government behavior.

The 1992 to present data series are adequate to show this clearly. Compare M3 growth with velocity of money and NASDAQ prices. What has happened is no suprise whatever.

Anyone interested and without a political axe to grind could not have missed it developing. (I am an amateur and saw it as obvious.)

M3 growth had to have been slowed in 1992-93. The "boom" had to be aborted. The Clinton clique would never have allowed this to happen. George Bush cannot allow the existing situation to persist, but everything he does to try to expand the economy now will cause increased long term problems.

A decrease in government spending, taxing and borrowing of over 50% would fix things. Of course, unemployment would hit 40%, and George would be impeached. Ah, dilemmas.

[bimbo]

Industrial Capacity in the U.S. must be idled as that industrial capacity (and related employment) is being shipped overseas ... you mean thay didn't mention this in their "Welcome to NAFTA, GATT, WTO speech?"

[VOA]

Airlines these days fill little more than half the seats on their planes,
leaving hundreds of the world's aircraft sitting idle.

So the response of American civil aviation to the disaster of 9-11?

1. Cooperate with nimrods like Norm Mineta and discourage MILLIONS of
paying passengers by subjecting them to meaningless searches...because
sensible profiling would offend Norm Mineta's memories of Japanese-American incarcerations
during WWII.

2. Decrease service, stop senior programs, close convenient ticket offices
at high-traffic offices and hotels throughout the country.

3. Continue to give executives big salaries (and bonuses) for flying their
companies into the ground, as long as they can get guvmint funding/subsidies.


This ain't just my opinion: "Travel Detective" Peter Greenburg of NBC's Today Show
and KABC radio (www.kabc.com) routinely profiles some of the insanity of the management
of American airline companies.
In response to an aviation airline executive's claim that "there is no room for
ego or incompetence at this company", Greenburg quipped "of course, all those positions
have been filled!"

[fightu4it]

This is the United States of America!

If we can't do it, no one can!

There is too much poor mouthing and too few visionary business leaders nowadays.

Not to mention too much government intervention in trying to micro manage every aspect of the economy. Do they really and truely believe in a free market system?

[snopercod]

The "Help-wanted index" hit a forty-year low last month, too. Previous low was 1960.

Just trying to cheer everybody up...

[taxcontrol]

Airlines these days fill little more than half the seats on their planes

---

What???? - I don't believe it for a min. I've been 100% travel since Dec and have YET to be on a flight less than 75% full. (Toronto, Newark, Orlando, Denver, Minneapolis, and Midway)

[liberalnot]

who to blame but the airlines themselves, in part, for 9-11. remember in the reagan years airlines had air marshalls? but the airlines quit that because it was "too expensive". nevermind that the israeli airline realized that you got to have security.

in part, send the bill to the arabs. saudi arabia would be a good start. hey, look dude! here's what your resident did to our industry, now pay up. there ought to be some lawyers interested in doing this.