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Well, McCain is at it again. During the Senate hearings on Air Traffic
Congestion, McCain made several snide (and outright untrue) comments
regarding GA ("private corporate aircraft" calling them obscene while
carefully avoiding any nasty definitions).

This SOB is really pissing me off. He made statements that were either
outright lies or demonstrated supreme ignorance of how the "system" works.
Since he WAS a pilot, I can only assume he has another hidden agenda.

He brought in some putz from CA to provide a report on how wonderful
privatization of ATC will be for the US. The ONLY testimony against
privatization came from the NATCA, and that was seen as just rice-bowl
protection.

During the testimony, there was no in-depth analysis of liability nor the
business cycle (when recession hits, fewer will fly, forcing increased
fees). Even McCains lacky could not answer direct questions about fees and
payments for this system.

Without complete and total Tort Reform or indemnification, the privatization
efforts will collapse after the first class-action lawsuit, and force fees
through the roof. Not to mention the fact that all the economies that
privatized their ATC have much lower traffic densities, and no real GA
industry to speak of (and much less input from trial lawyers). Look what
liability did to the GA industry until the GA Revitalization Act.

I did not hear a single person defend or make positive statements regarding
GA at any time during testimony.

Ladies and Gentlemen, McCain has refused to allow Boyer onto the Advisory
Commission. He brings in schmucks without real data to advance his agenda,
and denies opposing views from entering the record.

As a life-long Republican, I have been pushed to the limit on this issue. I
cannot support the GOP during this election if it means he will retain
committee chairmanship. I have already yanked the chain on my state and
local GOP chairmen. The so-called "Straight Talk Express" was the ultimate
in hypocrisy. This SOB pushes measures to provide America West (a donor)
with direct slots from Phoenix to DCA. And he has the nerve to talk about
Pork and campaign finance reform!!! Now he is pushing an initiative that
will once again kill GA in the US.

It is time to get out and make some noise to the others on the Senate
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Jay Rockefeller is on that
committee, and he needs to understand that GA user fees will once again
threaten the GA industry (the new Tiger plant is ready to open in his
state). I am sure there are others that can help keep this issue in
committee and off the floor.

Some may say we need user fees. Some may say we need to privatize ATC. I
have yet to see any hard data to substantiate these positions. Comparisons
to other countries fail to consider the unique economic and legal
environment in the US. I am not convinced this will fix anything long-term.
Listen to all the calls now for socialized medicine and entitlements to
prescription drugs after market rules and legal issues drove costs too high.
No one will be there for us in GA when the ATC privatization efforts drive
costs through the roof because we are too small a constituency.

This is a call to arms! Stay informed. We will only have ourselves to blame
if we have to start paying additional fees on top of the aviation fuel tax
and landing fees at some airfields. If this means the AOPA has to become the
NRA of the air, so be it. This is Hardball Politics now.

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