Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly has decided to engage and fight a newly proposed fee of $100 per flight proposed by the current administration.  For details on his point of view, read THIS and THIS. 

I couldn’t agree with him more.  I think such increased fees are burdensome for an industry that benefits *all* citizens and businesses in the United States.  Whether you’re an infrequent or frequent traveler, you still benefit from a transportation system that makes quite a few parts of our economy successful. 

I also think that such fees imposed on travelers (directly or indirectly) is akin to treating them as having deeper pockets than the rest of the country.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Some taxes and fees are quite reasonable and should be expected.  In light of the debt this country is in, I absolutely think we need to raise more revenues through more taxes and fees. 

I do not, however, think it is effective or smart to push burden off onto a class of people who have a weak lobby in Washington.  This goes a bit too far and it should be pulled off the table.

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