Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Why We Lost The Cold War

As a child growing up in the nineteen fifties there were plenty of reminders about the never-ending battle against Soviet Communism.

In and out of the classroom we knew of the value of our democracy, the freedoms we enjoyed as Americans.  We had open and free elections, though blacks could not vote in the South where the poll tax ensured the rule of whites. We could travel across our great country without having to show identification or answering to anyone as to our purpose, so long as there was no probable cause to stop us.

The differences were not limited to democratic values.

The virtues of capitalism were everywhere. In Poland, peasants stood in line for hours for a loaf of bread. In Moscow it took weeks, no months, to have a telephone installed. And the Soviet airline Aeroflot was a joke, United States Airlines Compete With Aeroflot - And Win :

At the height of the Cold War, Americans indulged in self congratulations when comparing our airline industry to the Soviet's Aeroflot. The rickety communist propelled travel provided images of a sweaty, husky commissar boarding an oversold but underfueled airplane, burdened with packages and a bottle of carry-on borscht.

As he worked his way into the seat, storing his chickens in the overhead compartment and his goats under the seat in front of him, he settled in next to an equally husky and sweaty peasant with a crying, soiled child -one  under each arm. If they were lucky, they would arrive at the scheduled destination city, and perhaps within twenty-four hours.

Onward

After the first of the year I was shopping at a big box store. The lines indicated it would take a half hour to check out. I asked the manager why there were so few clerks, "With the holidays over, no help to be had?" The response was frank and honest, "No, after the new year, we were instructed by regional to reduce our staffing to these levels."

My Facebook friends know that I spent over an hour on hold Monday with a life insurance company, a health insurance company, and a telephone company.

It was my fault trying to reach them on the first Monday after the holidays. Of course, I tried reaching them last week to no avail. There are only so many minutes one can waste on a cell phone.

Maybe the free-everything capitalists are right. We need competition. We need competition from the Communists. Then American corporations will start providing service.

Some of my friends probably think that the destruction of our Constitution under the second Bush reign with warrant-less search and seizures is a disaster. They probably think the telephone company turning over their phone records to the government without any legal authority is a travesty.

Screw the Bill of Rights.

The real travesty is the telephone company not answering the phone.

Praise Nordstroms. Praise the local Sundance 608 movie theater. Praise the Nitty Gritty. Praise the local Sentry.

 

 

 

Fuel Plummets; Airline fares soar

As we travel today, the busiest travel day of the year, it is important that we give thanks that the airline industry is not in line for a bailout.

For those in the Madison area, we can also take thanks that the Dane County Airport reduced landing fees in an effort to convince Northwest Airlines to increase its Madison load and resume more connecting flights to Minneapolis and Detroit. My beloved United Airlines and American Airlines are a lost cause.*

Rivaling the mismanagement and greed of the financial services industry and the automobile manufacturers, the airlines spent the last ten years lowering the quality of service, the frequency of service, the rate of on-time departures and landings, and the availability of seats.

And they raised the fares.

Some of you, dear readers, may recall that we were told that fare increases, baggage fees, the removal of seats and their replacement with orange crates, and the rationing of water on transcontinental flights were all the result of increased fuel prices.

Please note that fuel prices are half of what they were two four months ago and the lowest in five years.

Enough said.

*Dane County Regional Airport in Madison had the fourth-highest average domestic fare at $468. Cincinnati had the highest average fare at $595, followed by Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. at $568; Knoxville, Tenn. at $524; Madison; and Grand Rapids, Mich. at $461.

Pilots complain airlines restrict fuel to cut cost - Airlines Say Pilots Lie

From the AP: Pilots complain airlines restrict fuel to cut cost

WASHINGTON - Pilots are complaining that their airline bosses, desperate to cut costs, are forcing them to fly uncomfortably low on fuel.

You heard it here first: 

United Airlines Fuel-less Skies (June 23, 2008)

Friday was a first. We departed a bit late but the flight was managed well when we boarded and things progressed nicely as we headed west.  Then, unexpectedly, the pilot announced that our non-stop flight was going to put down in Denver for a thirty minute fueling.

Otherwise, we would not make our destination.

In these pricey times, while the airlines are unforgiving to passengers who need to rebook a flight, have two suitcases to check, or forget to keep their mileage account current, the carriers haul as little fuel as possible to reduce weight and save money.

Someone miscalculated and we did not have enough fuel. No rebates, no coupons, no extra miles were offered.  All we got was the official  apology from the pilot who pointed out that "It is better to be on the ground and wishing you were in the air than being in the air and wishing you were on the ground."

United Airlines Fuel-less Skies II (June 27, 2008)

United is two for two this past week with my flights. Heading west we had to make a stop in Denver since we were running out of fuel, United Airlines Fuel-less Skies. That was Friday.

On Wednesday I was scheduled to fly into Denver. Wind sheer caused us to circle and then the pilot announced we were to head to Fort Collins since we were running out of fuel. That is a twenty minute flight. We refueled for forty minutes, took off and twenty minutes later landed in Denver.

In the AP story the airlines prove they are full of it:

American and US Airways blame the complaints on heated labor negotiations — both are in contract talks with the complaining unions.

"It's not a safety issue; it's a contract issue," said John Hotard, a spokesman for American.

I have been there. If either of my flights had run into major weather problems, there might not have been enough fuel to make a safe landing without declaring a fuel emergency.

Masks in China. The Olympic Committe is A Joke. Nothing Has Changed

The hoopla, pageantry, silliness, nastiness and profiteering of the Olympics has not changed in over fifty years. If there is any question in your mind, run out and get Dave Maraniss' insightful  Rome 1960. The Olympics that Changed the World. 

Soviet Communism and the Cold War ended,  but the organizers and operators of the games are still far more important than the athletes. While the achievements of the competitors is often compelling and poignant, on the world stage the manipulations of governments, businesses, and  street level ticket scalpers is far more important when measuring the impact on the world's peoples.

Start with this story, and follow what unravels over the next few weeks. US cyclists apologize for wearing masks.

BEIJING (AP)—A group of American cyclists has apologized to Beijing Olympic organizers after arriving in China’s capital wearing face masks.

Jim Scherr, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s chief executive officer, said his organization didn’t ask the cyclists to apologize.

“Those athletes regret that action and have written an apology to BOCOG on their own behalf,” Scherr said. “They now realize and understand how their actions were perceived by the host nation and by the organizing committee.”

The China Olympics are a joke. A failure before they start.

For starters, the International Olympic Committee had this silly notion that by awarding the Olympics to China, it would induce that government to halt repression and recognize basic human rights. That was Joke 1.

Not content with destroying the jobs of American industrial workers with wages unfit for any dignified person, the Chinese spent most of this past year trying to murder our dogs and cats with poisoned pet food. Joke 2.

Finally there is the effort to contain the pollution. As though the soiled land, the contaminated waters, and the fouled air disappear by banning half the cars in Beijing on alternate days and temporarily closing industrial plants. Joke 3.

You cannot possibly insult the Chinese government by wearing face masks when eleven months of the year half of China tries to keep the pollution out of their lungs.

"I am sorry my voice sounds muffled, but if I remove my mask, the air pollution will burn my lungs like dry twigs in a campfire."

Those voices are muzzled for reasons other than the pollution. Those faces are hidden for reasons other than the pollution.

Airlines To Public: Go Fly a Kite or How Dumb Are We?

United Airlines sent an email about a sale on airfares through this Friday. That reminded me that I had to make a few reservations.

I started with Rachael's trip home for Christmas. Round trip was $586 for the dates and time that fit into her work schedule. I was hoping to keep to under $400.

Then I went to work on my trip from September 25-28 to New York City. Departing Madison via Chicago and returning from LGA and connecting to the Madison flight cost the modest sum of $284.

Again, bottom line: $284.

Always curious to check the Chicago-LGA fare,I discovered that the same flights, same date was $321, more expensive by $37.

Yes, cheaper to include Madison-Chicago on that trip from Chicago to New York.

For those who frequently make this trip you know that the price differential is upwardly stunning. If the ORD-LGA part of the trip is $250, the Madison-ORD portion can add upwards of another $400.

Go figure.

Oil is under $120 a barrel. It will be interesting to see if air fares come down as quickly as they went up - not to mention the extra fees for soda, clean water, pillows, blankets, a suitcase, landing, (no such fees for take offs*), using the toilet, and a seat.

*See The New Yorker cartoon June 9, 2008.�The caption was " Apparently, American now charges extra for landings."

Wheel Tax Made No Sense Thirty Years Ago. Or Now.

The city of Milwaukee is considering a wheel tax. $20 wheel tax advances in Milwaukee

...the city can't legally require suburban residents to pay the wheel tax.

Other opponents have noted that the wheel tax would not apply to heavy trucks, which take a disproportionate toll on roads, but that it does apply to much lighter vehicles, such as mopeds....

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

If memory serves me right, the Wisconsin legislature gave municipalities the authority to impose a local wheel tax sometime in the early 1970's.

It is about as regressive and unfair a tax imaginable, since it does not  correlate the fee to those who increase the cost of the city to serve automobiles. It taxes the less offensive vehicles:

• The  tax can only be imposed upon vehicles that are kept within the city meaning those that might use local roads more often,  like daily suburban commuters, escape the fee. It punishes already burdened city residents and rewards the commuters.
• The fee is flat. Passenger vehicles, regardless of size, value, or environmental impact are all charged the same.

The Wisconsin legislature, despite frequent requests from municipalities throughout the state, refuses to amend the offending statue and make the fee ad valorem which would place a greater burden on more expensive, heavier, or more polluting vehicles. Basing the fee on any one of those criteria would be far more equitable than the present law.

There is a reason that after more than thirty years, Wisconsin's's hundreds of municipalities refused to adopt this proposal with only one or two exceptions. A  mayor supported the enactment of a wheel tax fee in the 1970's and was defeated after its enactment in the next election. It was promptly repealed.

All of which points to a larger problem. The Wisconsin legislature needs to address the entire question - how to properly fund every level of govenment including the state, counties, municipalities, and schools?

Weekend Bicycling Report July 27, 2008

For the first time all summer I was able to do successive weekend back to back rides. I rode Saturday and Sunday last and this weekend.

It's about the back. With three discs fused, it looks like another one is going.

A combination of physical therapy and an epidural a week ago Friday had me back in the saddle though hills are still tough. The ache in the back combined with weakened legs from inactivity made for some very tough rides.

I resumed body pump and added more stretching. If things hold together, pilates is next.

I did a circuitous ride south and east of Madison yesterday with a finale of coming around Lake Monona and home through the Isthmus. Today's ride was a classic shot out to Paoli.

The weather was great both days, especially with the cloud cover today.

Maybe it was random chance but it appears that safety was on most rider's minds. Only a family of three and two other bikers rode sans helmet.

What I did find curious was people biking and smoking at the same time. I doubt that the benefit of one displaces the damage of the other.

I am now convinced that the Fitchburg re-pavement policy needs re-examination.

In an effort to save money and to recycle, Fitchburg is resurfacing its roads with a substance that is made from recycled materials but also has a high coefficient of friction. It obviously slows down all vehicles including bicycles. For bicyclists it means more work to maintain a decent speed. For automobiles, it means burning more fuel.

Why Does The Right Hate Rail and All Public Transit?

For years, advocates in the metro Milwaukee and the metro Madison areas pushed for commuter rail. While there may be some disagreements between the advocates over routes, light versus heavy rail, and the frequency of the service, the message is clear: rail is cheaper, more efficient, and greener than passenger automobiles.

There are enough commentaries by Madison's Dick Wagner, Milwaukee's Jim Rowen, and others that it is not necessary to repeat all of the arguments.

Even though it is well documented that public subsidies for public transportation are far less than the subsidies for automobiles and trucks, the right continues to wail about the 'outrageous cost' associated with public transit systems.

I looked for logical connections in their arguments. There are two consistent themes I see in their opposition to public transit, public airports, public roads, public water systems, public parks, and public everything:

• A public operation prevents someone in the private sector from making money. The hell with the fact that it means the public may get ripped off by privatizing everything from wars to water systems by the businesses that get the contracts, often no-bid. 
• A public operation means there will be public employee unions and that means more union influence in the political process.

United Airlines Gets a Thumbs Up; So Does AT&T

Compliments are forthcoming for United Airlines and AT&T. Yes, two of the largest corporate giants that have felt the vicious sting of the pesky Waxing America mosquito are deserving of compliments.

On the final leg of the already chronicled journey, with unplanned stops in Denver and Fort Collins, I wanted to change my ticket which normally requires a $150 change fee. My first request was met with a 'no' but when I comply took up the matter with a supervisor, the fee was waived.

I explained that while I knew the fee applied at the time I purchased my non-refundable ticket, that two points justified waiving the fee. First I was coming down with a cold which would make it more painful to wait another day to fly. Secondly, and more importantly, United had failed on the other two flights to deliver me in a timely manner to my destinations when we ran out of fuel necessitating two additional stops.

The supervisor made an exception and, I might add, the tenor of the conversation was quite reasonable.

Thank you, United Airlines.

We had sixteen people with cell phones west of Estes Park, not far from the infamous Stanley Hotel.  I was the one of only six with consistent reliable cell phone service. Like most of the others who had good service, my provider was AT&T.  I may not be pleased with their policy on cable deregulation in Wisconsin, but the cell phone service has been great.

Thank you, AT&T.

United Airlines Fuel-less Skies II

United is two for two this past week with my flights. Heading west we had to make a stop in Denver since we were running out of fuel, United Airlines Fuel-less Skies. That was Friday.

On Wednesday I was scheduled to fly into Denver. Wind sheer caused us to circle and then the pilot announced we were to head to Fort Collins since we were running out of fuel. That is a twenty minute flight. We refueled for forty minutes, took off and twenty minutes later landed in Denver.

That was more takeoff and landing fees, more fuel wasted than saved, more salary costs, and of course, more wasted time and inconvenience for the passengers.  Many missed connecting flights since their departures got out of the gates as soon as the wind advisory was lifted, while we were back in Fort Collins, not preparing to land.

No baggage. Some of the bags were up within twenty minutes.  Most of the passengers did not get their bags for an hour. That is because of the reduced staffing levels designed to save United money and make the passengers lives' miserable.