Informative article, Flop; thanks.
But you realize that it's less about Southwest than it is about Unical, right? It was about the cozy relationship between the old Continental and city leaders, how Continental bankrolled certain politicians and including more than $50k to the mayor, and bankrolling his inaugural party. How Continental got special favors from the city, including relaxing the city's code on skyline signs to allow your huge headquarters sign, and firing an aviation director who wasn't "favorable" enough to Continental. In the words of a former Houston city councilman, Continental "pretty much go whatever they wanted." In other words, Continental clearly got "special" favors from the city, which is what you keep accusing Southwest of (even though you can never offer any proof). It looks like you had it backwards, Flop.
Then when the new United/Continental moved its headquarters and 1,500 jobs out of Houston, they basically told the city that it was all about the bottom line. I don't know why you are surprised that the city then approved Southwest's expansion at HOU to create more jobs and opportunities at the city's south side. After all, as Unical proved, it's all about "the bottom line." And then in a snit, Unical cut even more jobs, unrelated ones at that, as "punishment" for the city not wanting to do any more under-the-table "favors" for Unical. Although, I guess it's natural that you'd expect special favors when you bribe the local politicians.
And as far as your analogy goes about Southwest not "look[ing] for opportunity," but rather just "follow[ing] the ambulance," I have to say that it's a pretty witty one. It made me smile. However, as usual, you have it exactly backwards. Creating international flying out of
literally nothing (not even a terminal), especially when Unical has a monopoly on Houston international flying, most certainly IS "looking for opportunity." Not sure how you can fail to see that. And we didn't follow the ambulance; it was dispatched to Houston
after we got here for international work. It came after Unical slit its proverbial Houston wrist whilst throwing a fit about not getting its way.
Hey, here's my own analogy, Flop. Let's see if you like it: The city may have divorced Unical (divested itself from your special relationship and uh, ... "favors"), but that's only because Unical cheated on the city first. It's no surprise that the lawyers were called in.
Bubba