Watching C-Span for a few minutes when I got home the other day, I saw a debate on if it should be or not be legal to let foreign countries own parts of our airlines. An amendment was on the floor to block the Department of Transportation from allowing this.
Many congressmen approved of the amendment and wanted to keep airlines owned by U.S citizens. Some Republicans said that it should be struck down, however, for the sake of "lower fares" and "trust in our neighbors". There was an I and No call out, (which I think is absurd). So did one Congressmen, as he called for a Yay and Nay session later on.
So I looked into exactly what the Open Skies act and the airlines say about foreign ownership
-The Department of Transportation called for foreign capital to be able to be invested as long as 75 percent of voters (board members, shareholders) were American Citizens.
Just like I felt on Dubai Ports, we should not let anyone own OUR airlines. Not because we think they have connections to terrorism, but why should we trust another country to run some of our most valuable assets? The 25 percent that aren't U.S citizens could screw up, just like our percentage can. But when they screw up we look terrible for giving them a contract and then we have to clean up the mess.
And on the terrorism issue, this is an administration that prides itself in being the "defenders of the nation" and the "homeland security leaders". So why do they need other countries to help them run one of our most vulnerable assets? Why would they risk that twice, before with Dubai Ports and now with this? The administration continually contradicts itself and some of the American people don't understand.
They talk about how we need to support our troops and then call 2500 just a number. They talk about a better economy, but they continue to create a bigger and bigger deficit. They talk about how we need financing reform in Congress, yet after Tom Delay and Jack Abramoff, yet the scandals just seem to keep coming.
Why should this be another contradiction? There is not some huge benefit we will get. Yes, the airline industry needs help, but we can at least try and fix it from the inside before asking someone else for help. Why can't they just share their brilliant ideas with us over the phone? This is just another business deal for the rich, and hopefully more will be said on this, outside of Congress.