Bako Cap,
I guess I should look at my pay check too - wait, I don't have one!!
Yes I love flying, and I worked for a major airline at 3rd year pre 9/11 wages. Now, I don't have that option, but I do have a few. Those options are Skywest or Mesa. Skywest is where I would like to be. I will not forgo a paycheck for flying an airplane simply to keep you happy - we are not talking about crossing a picket line, or a Freedom Air act here. We are talking about a pilot, who doesn't fly, wanting a job flying for a good company.
I have been on the street and made the best of it by starting my own business, but until you spend some time on the street after flight instructing, flying cargo, flying for a regional and finally making it - with over a thousand piltos under you on the seniority list, then have it all yanked away - don't preach. It has been a long time since I've been looking at the sunset from the sky, and I miss it. If you are really that jaded, take some time off - like 8 months or so. You will soon appreciate the industry for what it is.
I am not the reason, and neither are pilots "like me" that Skywest is flying 70 seat RJs for 50 seat wages - the market is. Do you really think that in this market, pilots can afford to just "band together" and refuse to fly? I've seen what that can do to an airline's culture, and let me tell you, it isn't pretty and it does nothing for the industry as a whole.
Off my soap box now - feel free to flame.
Randy