United Airlines at it again thanks to Republican Sleepy Reagan...

[oldcynic]

Reminded by radio today that Republican Reagan deregulated the airlines. Proves deregulation is soooo good (for the bottom line).

United Airlines is investigating the death of a giant rabbit which was being transported on one of its planes.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39715188
Bunnies are people too.

On a lighter note, birds flying first class.

Jet set pets: The animals that fly (on planes)

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39716442

[jberryhill]

1. I hardly think deregulation killed a freakishly large rodent

[oldcynic]

2. put 2 and 2 together...unless you are being sarcastic

Greed needs to be heavily regulated, always. We ain't gonna wish it away. Bunnies die, babies get struck with strollers, doctors get assaulted, employees snap under pressure...all to get more money.

[jberryhill]

4. Bunnies die of a lot of things

Many of them die from heart attacks under stress, to which they are prone.

But if you want to add "2 and 2", instead of multiplying, which is more appropriate to rabbits, perhaps you might indeed put "2 and 2" together and explain to me how deregulation killed this rabbit.

Are you suggesting an animal never died in transit on an airplane prior to 1978?

I don't see how caging this rabbit and shipping it as transit to satisfy the weird emotional needs of a wealthy purchaser, is anything other than unnecessarily cruel to the rabbit.

Did this rabbit want to live in Chicago?

The operative "greed" in the cruelty to this rabbit lies with the financial transaction involving its purchase. International trafficking in rodents could probably use some regulation.

Do you REALIZE where this could have led:

[oldcynic]

5. is this for real?

Damn, I thought I only had to worry about ant gods seeking revenge for all the personally squashed ants!! Now I gotta worry about rabbit gods going after me for all the bunnies I've made into cock-a-leekie soup. Let's see...the lettuce gods, the hamburger gods, the spider gods...I'm in deep shit.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Rabbits aren't rodents; they are lagomorphs.

Just being nitpicky.

[jberryhill]

10. Technically speaking, this one is stew meat

[NJCher]

12. Please

Some of us are very sensitive and this type of comment is very offensive.

Cher

[WinkyDink]

3. You were "reminded" incorrectly. The year was 1978, and the President was Jimmy Carter:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_Deregulation_Act

"Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada introduced S. 2493 on February 6, 1978. The bill was passed and was signed by Carter on October 24, 1978."

[oldcynic]

6. oops. Didn't fact check NPR. Sorry.

It's just that every serious analysis about when things went wrong in this country always goes back to Nixon or Reagan. I assume if it's bad, it's Republican. Must have been Reagan busting the traffic controllers union they were thinking of. (Am I wrong about that as well???)

[WinkyDink]

7. Not one of Jimmy's highlights. Yes, RR busted the Traffic Controllers. Terrible day for unions.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Airline deregulation happened under Carter, not Reagan.

The Airline Deregulation Act was passed in 1978.

[pressbox69]

11. Back in the days

before Reagan lost his mind.