Will and KMD
I don't disregard Colgan's responsibility, but even I am not so cynical to believe that enterprises can kill their customers without some price. Ask ValuJet, do you think US Air didn't have problems after their accident record in the early '90s, Tower Air went under after maintenance issues plus a plane sliding off the runway, there are consequences. EAL's corporate officers were thrown overboard and were rarely seen again. In a free market economy, reputations mean something--kill people and a price will be paid.
Will: specifically-Colgan, like all commuters are caught in a tough economic environment. As any business enterprise, it has to balance costs and revenues available in the market. They screwed up, despite making it clear that sleeping in crew rooms was forbidden, they didn't police it, seemingly cast a blind eye to it. Should airline operations REQUIRE crews to live in their assigned domiciles--YES! Should professionals be ready and rested to fly-YES! EAL required crews to live within "reasonable ground transportation" of their domiciles. Should that be the standard-YES!
With regards to senior military officers, few know the Federal conviction for dereliction of duty levied on the commander after the famous B-52 accident at Spokane. He lost retirement, spent time in Leavenworth, was disgraced.
GF