Trying to be Safe
by Susan Estrich
Every time I leave for a trip, my son makes me promise to come back safely. I try to hedge because I know it's not within my control, but even three-quarters asleep, as he usually is when I leave, he is never mollified. "Say you'll be safe," he says to me, and I usually do.
Which is to say, I put my trust in the FAA and the airlines.
I know that the most dangerous part of my trip, statistically speaking, is the part that is spent on the ground. I reassure myself of tha ...
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Posted by: Chris Williams
Comment: #1
Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:13 AM
Hi Susan
I am a conservative that rarely agrees with your conclusions, but admires your thoughtfulness as I have witnessed on television.
You are so right about this. It depresses me that conservative banter about the AA debacle has centered upon getting the government out of the process and allow the airlines to self-regulate. How pathetic!
The proper role of government is to oversee and regulate business in the citizen's interests. The proper role of business is to make profits. When these two entities are in an adversarial relationship, then this is a GOOD thing. The fact they battle with each other implies one isn't far stronger than the other. We benefit in that situation.
Would you not agree that one side gets too strong the people suffer? For example, the US lags far behind other countries in student performance levels. Why? The government runs the schools and won't regulate itself. Another example, oil companies rake in obscene profits off the citizenry because the government is not an adversary of big oil. We need to have equal strength on both sides for the condition to work for us.
I am afraid of the government taking control of the health care system. The citizens will end up suffering the most. The government finally stepped on the profits in the airline industry. They will whine and cry foul, but you are correct: after a plane crashes is too late for safety measures and profit/loss analysis.
Thank you for a great column!
Chris Williams
Green Bay, WI
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Posted by: robert j therriault
Comment: #2
Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:07 AM
Hi Susan
Good article. "Safety First" has always been a cardinal rule. Airlines, ships, submarines, air balloons, etc. are cases in point where I become absolutely, and totally dependent on continuous maintenance of the vehicle. It is really not that much different with cars and buses and trains except that in these cases we are always still on solid ground. The problem is that we all have a natural abhorrence of inspection, whether we are the doer or receiver. It is much easier for a building inspector to accept a $100 bill from the landlord than to spend tedious hours with meters and flashlights. Governments can no more guarantee compliance to standards than markets can. It all boils down to the relationship between the inspector and the inspectee and the conscientousness of each.
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Posted by: Richard
Comment: #3
Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:28 AM
Susan.
For a (trained) lawyer, your ability to think and speak logically is disappointing.
Yes it is true, as you write, that "conservatives... want smaller government? Do you really think the skies are too safe?"
However, it does not follow as a logical consequence that we want to shrink EVERY part of government.
Cheap shot
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Posted by: Richard Sye
Comment: #4
Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:07 PM
just testing the system to see if I can log in as a new account
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Posted by: Richard Sye
Comment: #5
Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:14 PM
Susan, I am pleased that you have narrowed your smile. sitting in my livng room I was frightened that you would not only swallow my tv but me as well. You should study statistical data so that you can assure your son that you will be safe, take later flights so that he will not be in a sleeping state and will not be left wondering what he heard, and will be awake so that he can properly evaluate the information.
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Posted by: Richard Sye
Comment: #6
Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:24 PM
One issue you do not write about much is that if Hillary defeats Obama, what will happen to the Black vote? And how will that affect your party. Could that be a reason Hillary is being abandoned?
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Posted by: Kathaleen McCausland
Comment: #7
Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:03 PM
Susan there are places for government and places that government should stay out of. FAA is one that the government should be there to enforce the rules for our safety. Health care, community services (most are abused), paid family leave (tax payers will be paying for), any program that makes an individual dependent on the government. Democrats are trying to make us dependent so the vote would always go their way and the same goes for illegal immigration. I am so disgusted with this election that I just wish they both would shut up and stop making fools of themselves and our country. Just give us the facts and let us decide. The problems in Iraq are due to the problems here. The terrorist do not want McCain in because he will continue to fight for our safety. The others will make us sitting ducks for another attack. We will see an escalation in violence because the terrorist will try to control the election and the Amercian public are to stupid to realize this.
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Posted by: T.Dixon
Comment: #8
Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:56 PM
Concerning the pain you've been having, there is an alternative and that is to go on a low ZINC diet. According to the medical dictionary, zinc causes cell division, which in turn causes inflamation. Less zinc in the diet lessens the pain. I know because I lived for years with pain thru-out my body. Today at 75 I am nearly pain free! For more information contact me at terri.dixon@mgmail.org
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