patrick.net

debyne says

Good article showing why/how air fares have dropped so much over the last 30 years.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/02/how-airline-ticket-prices-fell-50-in-30-years-and-why-nobody-noticed/273506/

And legroom, food and beverage, waiting times,permitted luggage, freebies, etc. has also decreased.

Most of the savings was due to Airlines scrapping 40 year old planes and/or upgrading engines.

Manufactured Goods and the services that use them staying the same price or even falling after inflation is called "Normal". Take a look at computers or cars. However, car makers aren't removing features and options to maintain profitability; on the contrary, they are getting cheaper with more extras simultaneously - even in the bottom of the market.

Have subsidies for airports and airlines and aircraft builders (many now going to China despite the gifts of billions in subsidies and breaks given over the past decades by taxpayers) decreased after inflation - or increased?

Airlines are America's Train System and should be regarded as such, they're certainly heavily taxpayer supported. As a tradeoff, reasonable comfort should be expected.

thunderlips11 says

they're certainly heavily taxpayer supported.

Citation please

By the way, premium seats are also use to reward frequent flyers. The current cabin layout is a reflection of how airlines try to maximize profit. As a result, the consumer also has more choices. A win-win in my book.

2013: Boeing gets "Biggest State subsidy in US History"
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/11/11/boeing-biggest-state-subsidy-in-u-s-history/

"Essential Air Services" - mostly to small cities in Red Areas, btw.
http://wyofile.com/gregory_nickerson/subsidair-essential-air-service-subsidy-great-lakes-airlines/

~$19B for the FAA

http://www.dot.gov/budget/2012/fy2012budgethighlights.pdf

Jet fuel is taxed at about 22 cents - unless it is used by commercial airlines, who only pay a 4 cent tax. Kerosene not used for jet fuel is taxed at about 25 cents.
http://taxmap.ntis.gov/taxmap/pubs/p510-008.htm

I wonder how much of the subsidies are absorbed by the unions.

Newer airlines like Virgin America and JetBlue are providing good service at a competitive price.

If I was going to bring Boeing into this I would talk about the EX IM Bank.

EAS with 38 planes does not show up on the radar

The gas thing is not small, although your link is busted at the upper one.

But I will bet it is small compared to what ADM gets.

At any rate I say get rid of all of them. At the state level I suppose that is hard because the states have to compete with one another to keep the tax base. But at that point it only affects that state, if too onerous the masses vote with their feet.

indigenous says

Dan8267 says

That's not an argument.

You do realize I have been a registered Libertarian for over 30 years?

That is also not an argument.

Dan8267 says

That is also not an argument.

In that case splain yourself.

indigenous says

Dan8267 says

That is also not an argument.

In that case splain yourself.

Honey, I don't even know what you're asking clarification for.

Dan8267 says

Honey, I don't even know what you're asking clarification for.

The only time I see your kind of hubris is when it is accompanied by a lot of ignorance.

indigenous says

Dan8267 says

Honey, I don't even know what you're asking clarification for.

The only time I see your kind of hubris is when it is accompanied by a lot of ignorance.

Ah, so you have no questions and just want to be a dick. Please, continue to vent your sexual frustrations.

300 comments in 5 days. Exceeded my expectations.

I may or may not be arrogant, but you are wrong on a great many issues and calling me arrogant does not change that fact.

Dan8267 says

but you are wrong on a great many issues and calling me arrogant does not change that fact.

E.G.?

To be fair, the two statements are not mutually exclusive.

Nor does either imply that I am. The later just suggests that if I am an arrogant ass, I'm an honest one.

I will concede that I have little tolerance for stupidity and so I may seem to be an ass to people like Crazy and Indigenous.

Ah, more trite cliches with nothing to back up that they apply to the one they are being flung to.

Dan8267 says

more trite cliches

There you go

Call it Crazy says

The problem with narcissists is, they don't see the reflection in the "mirror"...

There you go...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/lhKECC4f_XY

I calling doucebaggery she started the video with "Hey Guys!"

Peter P says

The highly-popular 737 has grown in LENGTH. The cross-section did not change. The number of seats per row did not change.

And they fly as few of them as they can.

I recall in the 90's how nearly every plane had some EMPTY ROWS. Parents with "lap kids" had good odds of finding a free seat to put Junior into.

I can't recall the last time I didn't hear a call for "this flight is full, please some of you check your bags at the gate". But it's certainly more than 5 years now.

My highly popular penis has grown in length. The cross-section did not change, but the number of women bobbing on it did seem to increase.

Vicente says

Peter P says

The highly-popular 737 has grown in LENGTH. The cross-section did not change. The number of seats per row did not change.

And they fly as few of them as they can.

I recall in the 90's how nearly every plane had some EMPTY ROWS. Parents with "lap kids" had good odds of finding a free seat to put Junior into.

I can't recall the last time I didn't hear a call for "this flight is full, please some of you check your bags at the gate". But it's certainly more than 5 years now.

Yeah, they are doing a pretty good job forecasting demand and optimizing fare structure.

On some routes, you may still see empty seats. Just a few years ago, we flew JFK to Venice (Italy). The wide-body jet had maybe 50 people on it. My wife and I each got a whole row to ourselves. That was the only time I regretted having paid for extra legroom. :-)

debyne says

My highly popular penis has grown in length. The cross-section did not change, but the number of women bobbing on it did seem to increase.

That's pretty funny. I don't know how you got 2 dislikes.

But please, check your baggage at the gate before you climb on board.

thunderlips11 says

debyne says

My highly popular penis has grown in length. The cross-section did not change, but the number of women bobbing on it did seem to increase.

That's pretty funny. I don't know how you got 2 dislikes.

But please, check your baggage at the gate before you climb on board.

Thanks...I'm glad at least somebody liked it. Too many haters out there.

debyne says

Thanks...I'm glad at least somebody liked it. Too many haters out there.

Just see how many likes and dislikes I got on this thread.

If everyone likes you it means you are not successful enough.

thunderlips11 says

But please, check your baggage at the gate before you climb on board.

Forgot to give you credit for the solid add-on...funny

Peter P says

debyne says

Thanks...I'm glad at least somebody liked it. Too many haters out there.

Just see how many likes and dislikes I got on this thread.

If everyone likes you it means you are not successful enough.

I just gave you a "like", so you're success is dwindling :)

The Aisle Seat

Terrorists boarded a flight out of London . One took a window seat and the other sat next to him in the middle seat.

Just before takeoff, a U.S. Marine sat down in the aisle seat.
>
>After takeoff the Marine kicked his shoes off, wiggled his toes and was settling in when the Arab in the window seat said 'I need to get up and get a coke.'

'Don't get up,' said the Marine 'I'm in the aisle seat, 'I'll get it for you.'

As soon as he left one of the Arabs picked up the Marine's shoe and spat in it. When the Marine returned with the coke, the other Arab said, 'That looks good. I'd really like one too.' Again, the Marine obligingly went to fetch it.

While he was gone the other Arab picked up the Marine's other shoe and spat in it. When the Marine returned they all sat back and enjoyed the flight.

As the plane was landing the Marine slipped his feet into his shoes and knew immediately what had happened. He leaned over and asked his Arab neighbors, 'Why does it have to be this way? How long must this go on? This fighting between our nations? This hatred? This animosity? This spitting in shoes and . . . pissing in cokes?'

The FEW. THE PROUD. THE MARINES.

Jack Ma just validated my views. :-)

Besides, most men want to sleep with as many women as they could, yet they still consider adultery a sin.

Peter P says

Do you want to succeed? Or would you like to have the most beautiful, heart-wrenching story of your failure.

Your advice is about as valuable as a drunk armchair fan screaming "JUST HIT THE G*DD@M BALL" at his TV set.

New Renter says

Your advice is about as valuable as a drunk armchair fan screaming "JUST HIT THE G*DD@M BALL" at his TV set.

You mean "GET IN THE HOLE?"

Tiger Woods certainly took the advice.

Peter P says

Poverty exists because of bad values. It is that simple. The majority of poor people think wealth is a sin. It is not surprising their moral high ground is a swamp.

It is all too human to find comfort in blame. As a result, the goal to lift oneself out of poverty is entirely forgotten. On the other hand, winners do not waste time with excuses.

Do you want to succeed? Or would you like to have the most beautiful, heart-wrenching story of your failure.

Absolute nonsense. Wealth is frequently obtained through bad values - financial fraud, land theft, ethnic cleansing. You live in a fantasy world.

Peter P says

Besides, most men want to sleep with as many women as they could, yet they still consider adultery a sin.

Opposition to open relationships stems from the times before it was possible to figure out who the father was. It was actually men who were against it. Simply put, the men did not want to raise and support someone else's children!

dublin hillz says

Opposition to open relationships stems from the times before it was possible to figure out who the father was. It was actually men who were against it. Simply put, the men did not want to raise and support someone else's children!

Nowadays, with family court and child support, men probably prefer that to be unknown. :-)

I may still adopt a child one day. To me, whether there is a biological connection makes no differences at all. I want my children to build on my accomplishments, if any.

Blurtman says

Absolute nonsense. Wealth is frequently obtained through bad values - financial fraud, land theft, ethnic cleansing. You live in a fantasy world.

Is that what you want to believe? That would be unfortunate.

Do you even know what is the upside of this thread? What is the silver lining for everyone?

If your value system is the only obstacle, it should be seen as good news. All it takes is a modification to your beliefs. You have everything it takes to improve your life. You should rejoice.

Why believe in limitations? Why even explain or theorize? Act now. You should rejoice.

dublin hillz says

Peter P says

Besides, most men want to sleep with as many women as they could, yet they still consider adultery a sin.

Opposition to open relationships stems from the times before it was possible to figure out who the father was. It was actually men who were against it. Simply put, the men did not want to raise and support someone else's children!

The natural ratio of men to women is damned close to 1:1. Polygamy leaves a large number of beta males with none. Those men will have three choices:

1) Homosexuality
2) Abstinence
3) Fight the Beachmaster:

How long do you think the beachmaster will last when the young men have access to modern weaponry?

Say your prayers old man!

New Renter says

Those men will have three choices:

1) Homosexuality

2) Abstinence

3) Fight the Beachmaster

Yet another reason to legalize prostitution.