April 28th, 2008
Ageria’s oil minister, who heads OPEC, forecasts that oil will hit $200 a barrel because of the weak dollar and the U.S. recession, not because OPEC is holding back oil. Besides, he says the U.S. has record supplies of gasoline.
Isn’t it funny that this isn’t the main topic of discussion on TV news, in the papers and on talk radio? If his forecast is true, it spells disaster for the U.S. economy.
But the media have convinced us that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s controversial sermons and his latest publicity tour are more important. Frankly, I’d like the media to explore solutions to this gasoline problem, not Barack Obama’s gasbag pastor problem.
April 28th, 2008
The AP wire reports that United and US Airways are in serious merger talks. We already know that Delta is buying Northwest.
And those are not the end of the airline mergers.
Rising costs of fuel are forcing a new round of airline consolidation. These new, behemoth air carriers will mean customer-service nightmares for passengers as they find their choices are reduced or eliminated to one airline, which will be able to charge whatever the customers will pay.
Can you imagine flying in a couple of years as you’re landing at an airport served by one of the merged airlines, and the flight attendant says:
“Thanks for flying Humongous Airlines. Although, you know, we really don’t have to thank you because you have no choice. Buh-bye. ”
The time is ripe for the second tier airlines, the Allegiants, the Southwests and others, to shine. That can only help Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), which features quick check-in and TSA clearance, good service, free parking and convenience to west and northwest Chicagoland without the traffic.
