Denver, CO -- I HATE Flying
So, my flight was just delayed for the second time... my 11:58 AM MT departure became a 2:00 PM one; but that's OK, because my 8:35 PM ET one is now 11:45.
My rule of thumb used to be that if a drive would take less than 5 hours, I'd drive rather than fly. Lately, it's been 7-8 hours. Now, I'm pretty sure that when I go to the UJC GA in November in Nashville, I'm driving the 14 hours...
The situation keeps getting worse, and it can't get better until we modernize our flight traffic control equipment. But that isn't happening. We can spend trillions on war but can't spend enough to make the trains or planes run on time, to say nothing of sustaining our bridges and highways.
It's time to nationalize mass transit in this country. It really couldn't get any worse, and it's not like it's been particularly profitable.
I'm strange enough that I don't mind driving 12 hours a clip if I have to to get somewhere, but most people aren't. Someone who works for me just told me after a particularly horrid cross-country flight that she will never fly again, even if it means she doesn't get to see much of the world. I'm sure she's not alone. If people were to travel 25% less often, that would have to have a huge dampening effect on the economy. Keeping all forms of transit working quickly, efficiently, safely, and comfortably has to be a high priority for the federal government. It really hasn't been since what, the 1950s? It helps people, and it helps business.
As I type this, my flight was just delayed another 15 minutes...
jasonbrzoska.com |
