The problem is that the government isn't using the money except as a means of showing that the deficit is less than it actually is. With Southwest, the chances of flying nonstop or direct between two cities is greater than with the other major airlines. Most airlines require you to change planes at a hub. David R > >In any case, it is absurd to pay 25 to 30 percent taxes > >on an airilne ticket. The money doesn't go to the aviation > >industry - it goes, for the most part, to the general fund. > > Government provides a service. FAA has its obligations to the people > who work the ATC, work the lines, etc. $3 fees per segment go to the > FAA fund that has accumulated close to $3bil. since the start of that > program. The airline that hates more than anyone else is Southwest because > it hurts them the most. > > If I am flying SEA-BWI with stops in SJO, SAT, MCI,CMH etc. then I'd > rather fly SEA-<insert the hub>-BWI and pay almost the same, even > cheaper. If the $3 wasn't there, I would still pick the second choice > over the first one anyway.. > > > > >No country ever taxed itself into prosperity. The taxes are way to high. > >Between federal and state income taxes, gasoline tax, sales tax, airline > >ticket taxes, telephone taxes (which should have gone away a long time ago > >because their purpose (to give phone service to rurual America) is no > longer > >needed), > >alcohol taxes, cigarette taxes, double taxation of dividends, death taxes, > >etc., etc., etc., you are lucky it keep 40% of your salary. Unless, of > >course, you are on welfare in which case everyone else is giving you a free > lunch. > > >David R > > there is no free lunch.. There is no free government either. US has one of > the > lowest tax rates in the G-7 countries. On top of that, no any other country > gives $300 bil. worth of tax cuts to rich, while people busting their asses > get almost nothing.. > > > > BAHA > Fan of Mr. Buffett saying "with $30,000 that she makes, my secretary > deserves > a tax cut more than she does."..