Passage of the FAA Bill regarding musical instruments

[moxham123]

Passage of the FAA Bill regarding musical instruments

"The AFM applauds the passage of the FAA Bill that sets a consistent national policy allowing musical instruments on airplanes

After five years and 23 short-term extensions, Congress has passed legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next four years. Included in the bill are provisions that create a uniform national policy regarding musical instruments on airplanes. Any instrument that can be safely stored in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat may be brought on board as carry-on luggage. Additionally, the bill sets standard weight and size requirements for checked instruments, and permits musicians to purchase a seat for oversized instruments, such as cellos, that are too delicate to be checked. Existing law allowed each airline to set their own policy regarding musical instruments, and size requirements varied widely for both carry-on and checked baggage. The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has been lobbying Congress to enact such a policy for nearly a decade.

"This is great news for professional musicians throughout the U.S. and Canada who carry the tools of our trade – our instruments – aboard commercial aircraft,” said AFM President Ray Hair. "Ending the confusion over musical instruments as carry-on baggage has been a top legislative priority for nearly a decade. I am proud of our Government Relations Director, Hal Ponder and his assistant Laura Brigandi in our Washington legislative office for seeing the effort through. Musicians can now fly in friendlier skies.”

The FAA reauthorization was passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, February 3 by a 248-169 vote. It subsequently passed the Senate on Monday, February 6, 75-20. The President is expected to sign the bill into law."

[Gallowglass]

Thank God for the government. It's nice to see AFM President Ray Hair supporting the loss of freedom for the airlines as a win for musicians everywhere. It's always good when our selfish interests can be satiated at the expense of someone else. Hooray!

[Banned]

Who was it that did not allow instruments to be carried on? Was it the decision of the airlines or the FAA. If it was the FAA, then I am glad they lost some power over American citizens. If it was the airlines decision, then it is bad news that this government rode rough-shod over private business, again.

[lonewolf]

Apparently, Congress decided that airlines must allow musical instruments on board whether its airline policy or not.

I wonder if the cellos can be forced to sit in the rear? Maybe next year, they'll fight any possible discrimination and legislate them into 1st class?

And what about the sousaphones?

[songsmith]

Oh, brother! Those poor airlines! Relax, conservatives. The same bill also basically busted all the airline unions, taking freedoms away from workers. Remember, freedoms lost by people are far less important than those lost by businesses.
Funny how you guys are indoctrinated to think against your own interests, by being taught to identify with the elite, rather than your own group.
The bill also paves the way for the Top 3 airlines to absorb all the others, lessening freedom of choice, and getting rid of even more of those pesky living-wage jobs. (Cue conservative applause.)

[Banned]

stumpy, why do you always identify with and support the biggest elite ever , the government?

[lonewolf]

Funny how you guys are indoctrinated to think against your own interests, by being taught to identify with the elite, rather than your own group.

Some describe standing up for others' natural rights even when its against their own interest as patriotism...some call it virtue...I suppose there are many names for it. In reality we are standing up for our own rights as well because every time government erodes another right, we are all affected.

Its like that old cliche with a little twist: "I don't agree with what you say, but I defend your right to say it."

For a libertarian, its called "walking the walk." Don't confuse that with conservatives who only "talk the talk."

I just like to add a little sarcasm to the mix to make it more palatable.

[Gallowglass]

Oh, brother! Those poor airlines! Relax, conservatives. The same bill also basically busted all the airline unions, taking freedoms away from workers. Remember, freedoms lost by people are far less important than those lost by businesses.

There are a few false assumptions here, Johnny. First, I am not, in theory, against unions. In fact, collective bargaining is one of the most important tools labor has in a free market. Unfortunately we have neither a free market nor a free society and all too often those unions function more like a labor goon squad than as an effective tool to voice the concerns of the worker...this however is a topic for another discussion. False assumption number two is the (sarcastically phrased) inference that in conservative (or libertarian) philosophy, business interests somehow take precedence over the rights of the individual. This is symptomatic of the modern rhetoric of class warfare that draws a distinction between the two and only illustrates your own indoctrination. In reality, the business owner(s) should enjoy no more rights than any other individual, but they are nonetheless entitled to those rights. Trying to pretend that by owning a business somehow changes or negates that seriously calls into question your ethics regarding equality and fair practice.

Funny how you guys are indoctrinated to think against your own interests, by being taught to identify with the elite, rather than your own group.

In no way am I indoctrinated to think against my own "interests". I do not consider myself or anyone else as part of a "group" (entitled to some kind of special treatment, just because of inclusion), so much as I think of everyone as individuals. This is further evidence of your own indoctrination. Advocating for the rights of the individual in any case IS advocating for my own interest.

The bill also paves the way for the Top 3 airlines to absorb all the others, lessening freedom of choice, and getting rid of even more of those pesky living-wage jobs. (Cue conservative applause.)

No applause here...sounds like a bad bill all around. I'm sure it will have no trouble passing.

[lonewolf]

No applause here...sounds like a bad bill all around. I'm sure it will have no trouble passing.

I was wondering when I would get today's ROFLMAO

[ToonaRockGuy]

Please move this here: http://rockpage.net/phpbb2/topic28528.html

Since obviously this is turning into another Johnny vs. Joe shit-fest.