COMMON SENSE: Week of January 5

THE NOT SO FRIENDLY SKIES

In as much as many travel by air during the holiday season, Ithought you might find the following statistic interesting. Since1952, which is considered the beginning of the airline industry inthe United States, the total profits vs. losses of all commercialairlines indicates that the industry has operated at an overallloss.

Imagine a loss over the combined 60-year period. Considering thesize of recent fare increases, new fees for just about everythingand the elimination of meals on many airlines, it is safe to saythat the airlines are attempting to reverse the trend. I think theywill fail.

Between often-long security lines, poor on-time performances,horror stories of passengers stuck on planes for hours waiting totakeoff or disembark, the overall flying experience is goingdownhill.

Combine all this with continued high fuel prices and a bad economy,and mergers like the one between Continental and United andbankruptcies such as the gigantic American Airlines failure willremain commonplace.

As you might have figured out, I have flown recently. In fact, Ihave flown a number of times in the past few months. As a regular,although not frequent flyer during the course of my life, I havefound each improvement in equipment quality or airportmodernization more then countered by the little things that add upto big negatives.

The airline industry will survive. After all, it is part of thebasic fabric of American life and an important part of our nationaltransportation system. Unfortunately, it seems that the passengeris taken advantage by an industry that simply cannot get its acttogether.

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Allow me to add my voice to the many voices that praised the NYPDand our local 68th Precinct for the fine work done in identifyingand capturing the rapist who preyed on a child.

All too often, we fail to appreciate the quick work of the NYPD.And I think most would agree when some nut is terrorizing yourcommunity, quick work by the NYPD is very much appreciated.

In the past couple of years, there have been a number of occasionswhen a sex offender, burglar, drug pushers or other felons havetried to put down roots in our community. Each time the 68thPrecinct has successfully investigated and made the arrest.

Thank you, 68!

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The legislative session opened up this past Wednesday in Albanywith the Governor’s State of the State address. No matter what yourpolitical affiliation, you should be wishing the community’s senateand assembly delegations the best as they get down tobusiness.

There is a lot of work to be done and there are going to be manydisagreements. And yes there are real differences between Democratsand Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals in how to govern.

It will come as no surprise that I subscribe to theConservative-Republican way of thinking. Nevertheless, I have thehighest respect for all those who for six months, two or three daysa week, leave their families to make their way to Albany torepresent us.

Jerry Kassar is the chairperson of the Kings CountyConservative Party. He is a longtime community activist who hasserved as an officer of member of many organizations. He works forthe state of New York.