virgin,
I think there is some justification for the attitude that you describe to be found in many endevors, not just aviation. There is a particularly American reluctance to be regulated, and it is part of our culture, thus part of our government. This is a two sided issue, with the inherent relaxation of oversight, we pay less, gain efficiency and speed, innovate more quickly; but we lose some theoretical protection.
As proof to the premise that both systems work about equally well, I believe that the accident rate for US aviation is about the same as European operations, and I don't subscribe to the bugabear about how awful the European weather is (unless some Englishman wants to take a few Albany to Detroit runs with me some December, for tropical relaxation!). . <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
[ 13 February 2002: Message edited by: Nick Lappos ]</p>