"Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.” Murphy’s Laws on Technology
So, the big news currently revolves around the merger of Northwest and Delta. They are two old, big, recognized air carriers who have been bleeding money for decades. So now they’re going to take their corporate stupidity and join them together. Any 5th grader should be able to figure out the outcome of this one.
I remember when I was working in Chicago but still living in Michigan. I called Northwest and inquired into pre-buying multiple tickets for a set price. At the time (pre-911) tickets between Detroit and Chicago went for about $100 bought in advance and $250 bought the day of departure. I offered to buy 50 (essentially a years worth) for a preset price somewhere in between the two prices. All I really wanted was to not have to pay the change fee ($100) when I had to change my flight days. The response? “We don’t have a program like that”. OK, so I worked my way up the chain with the same response. So here’s someone TRYING to give them money and they “don’t have a program for that”.
Doomed!
So now I’m listening to all these “experts” talk about how bad this merger will be. Bad for, pick one: the economy, the employees, the passengers, global warming, ED, whatever.
I'm listening to industry experts, economic experts, transportation experts and, of course, politicians blather on and on about how BAD this merger will be for ______. It’s amazing to me how so many allegedly intelligent people can sound so dumb. One of two things, either many of these experts are really dumb or they’re being paid to be dumb. That is, someone with a special interest is paying them to pitch a viewpoint. I’d like to think it’s the latter, because if there really are that many people roaming around being paid mega bucks to be an “expert” or being paid mega bucks to be in office (yeah, I really believe most public servants make a lot of money to think a certain way) who really are as dumb as they sound then we really are all doomed. “Doomed, as doomed as doomed can be”.
I don’t know much, but let me tell you what I do know. Any space, once void, will be filled. I’ve watched this phenomenon happen over and over again in the technology world. Two giant companies will merge, the “experts” will predict doom for the customers and low and behold some new startup will come along and offer a better solution, with better service for a better price.
Happens every time. Will happen again this time.
So, the big news currently revolves around the merger of Northwest and Delta. They are two old, big, recognized air carriers who have been bleeding money for decades. So now they’re going to take their corporate stupidity and join them together. Any 5th grader should be able to figure out the outcome of this one.
I remember when I was working in Chicago but still living in Michigan. I called Northwest and inquired into pre-buying multiple tickets for a set price. At the time (pre-911) tickets between Detroit and Chicago went for about $100 bought in advance and $250 bought the day of departure. I offered to buy 50 (essentially a years worth) for a preset price somewhere in between the two prices. All I really wanted was to not have to pay the change fee ($100) when I had to change my flight days. The response? “We don’t have a program like that”. OK, so I worked my way up the chain with the same response. So here’s someone TRYING to give them money and they “don’t have a program for that”.
Doomed!
So now I’m listening to all these “experts” talk about how bad this merger will be. Bad for, pick one: the economy, the employees, the passengers, global warming, ED, whatever.
I'm listening to industry experts, economic experts, transportation experts and, of course, politicians blather on and on about how BAD this merger will be for ______. It’s amazing to me how so many allegedly intelligent people can sound so dumb. One of two things, either many of these experts are really dumb or they’re being paid to be dumb. That is, someone with a special interest is paying them to pitch a viewpoint. I’d like to think it’s the latter, because if there really are that many people roaming around being paid mega bucks to be an “expert” or being paid mega bucks to be in office (yeah, I really believe most public servants make a lot of money to think a certain way) who really are as dumb as they sound then we really are all doomed. “Doomed, as doomed as doomed can be”.
I don’t know much, but let me tell you what I do know. Any space, once void, will be filled. I’ve watched this phenomenon happen over and over again in the technology world. Two giant companies will merge, the “experts” will predict doom for the customers and low and behold some new startup will come along and offer a better solution, with better service for a better price.
Happens every time. Will happen again this time.
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1 comment:
Right on Greg. The underlying assumption that there was actually something good to preserved in two old tired companies is the problem here. The merger will not accomplish much for either of them other than hide some problems longer and give their shareholders a little more room to exit. But, the real reason to support allowing these things to happen is to allow someone new to come into the space and service needs like what you had. These companies weren't looking and never will be.
Phil
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