Dude, you don't really believe that AA management propaganda, do you? I gotta' believe that you know it's crap, but you're just saying it to poke someone. Because if you really belive that the Wright Amendment was SWA's deal, or in any way good for SWA, then you ought to be pee-tested ASAP. Pick up a history book for God's sake.
The Wright Amendment came into being AFTER Texas airlines failed in numberous, groundless lawsuits to stop SWA from flying. Two airlines, Continental and Texas International, actually pleaded nolo contendre in criminal court for their illegal efforts and collusion in this campaign. After all the courts decided in SWA's favor, there was no legal way to stop SWA from flying and competing in Texas (1971). When SWA intended to expand outside of Texas after the 1978 deregulation, more groundless suits followed. All failed, again due to lack of merit. At this point, Jim Wright, US Representative from Fort Worth area, and basically an AA stooge, just changed the law. His first attempt was rebuffed, but he managed to slip was was essentially a writ of attainder (look it up) in to an unrelated bill. The despicable Wright Amendment was born. A law clearly designed specifically to prevent American Airlines and others from having to compete in the marketplace (you remember how capitalism works, right?) with an airline who, arguably had a better business model. That's obviously anti-competitive and anti-capitalistic, and clearly un-American.
To say that SWA benefited from the Wright Amendment is not only disingenuous and complete BS, it's also plain laughable. SWA had no part in its creation, fought its inception, but eventually had to accept it, as it was the new, protectionist law. SWA thrived in spite of the law. American Airlines got essentially a 35-year reprieve from having to actually compete with Southwest. What a shocker that American fought its lifting in the eventual 2006 compromise.
As you said, the Wright Amendment was indeed government protection. However, it was for American Airlines' protection, not SWA's. But you knew that, didn't you?
Bubba
