Schumer’s priorities wrong for state

The Island Now

Perhaps Sen. Charles Schumer should worry about more important issues of the day than the current price of airline tickets.  

Don’t stand between Schumer and a microphone or camera or you will be trampled in his stampede. Economic survival for airlines is difficult due to increasing costs of fuel.  This has forced them to look for additional sources of revenue.  

Government does this for many services it provides.  Rather than raise taxes to cover all costs, it also employs “user” fees.  To survive economically for years most airlines have added various fees to help meet the bottom line.  Many of these additional charges are for items that were previously free.  These can include checking baggage, food and beverages, early boarding, express security lines, more leg room, isle and window seating.  

This is no different than others. Isle seats at a Broadway play now cost more. For those who don’t like the price of one airline’s ticket, shop around to purchase a competitor’s product.  Purchase your tickets earlier, take the train, bus or drive. Sometimes you have to pay more based upon the supply and demand of a product. This is the basic nature of free enterprise and how life works in a free society.  

Companies use advertising and marketing to promote their products. Consumers are free to make their own individual decisions.  They can choose to select which product they desire to patronize.  Other airlines may soon go against the herd. They will market themselves as the “family friendly” competitor who offers family style seating for less.  

Schumer could set an example as do many others on a voluntary basis without government coercion on his next flight.  He can always give up his seat so a family can sit together. With all of Schumer’s flying around the state and nation to press conferences and fundraising events, perhaps he can share his frequent-flyer mileage bonuses with others.

Voters would prefer Schumer stop his kvetching, daily photo ops, press conferences along with evening and weekend fundraisers.  How about resuming working full-time doing the peoples business instead of his own?  

Schumer can start by converting his passion for free press coverage and campaign funds by assisting in passing an honest, balanced federal budget by October 1. Focus on reducing our eight-percent unemployment rate (actually 15 percent with the 7 percent who have just given up looking) and start paying off Uncle Sam’s $16 trillion and growing long-term debt. 

Deal with securing our boarders, crime, education and the environment rather than attempting to grab daily headlines with stories such as this. 

 

Larry Penner

Great Neck

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