By Ezra
The David Brooks corollary: Because Delta is soon to file for bankruptcy protection, it stands to reason that no airline could possibly be more efficient or profitable and thus all private air carriers should be nationalized. Opponents of this plan must explain how the performance of Delta, a company with multiple highly-detailed plans for long-term profitability, could possibly leave anyone confident in the sustained success of a vigorous and deregulated private sector. Conservatives who think this disaster will set off improvement in the airline industry need to explain how a comprehensive free-market failure is going to restore America's faith in the private sector.
