...all adds up to increased GDP and growth.
Yes indeed. The parallels between the financial industry and aviation are getting scary. In one way the government, i.e. the regulator, completely backs off and let's the industry 'regulate' itself (read: airline managers rewrite the rules any way it suits them) while on the other hand the normal person gets screwed and ends up footing the bill. Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock...
The apathy of most colleagues is what scares me the most. People who are supposedly paid to think about "safety" and "situational awareness" turn out to be the kind of gullible and obedient sheep that most totalitarian regimes could only dream about.
Do yourself a favour, stay away from professional/airline flying, let the low-cost and Middle Eastern airlines continue their race to the bottom, keep your sanity and health, and enjoy life!