Flying Frogs

The war with France goes on.
For some reason, certain Congressional morons seem to think that then nation that we relied on to support our independence is now our greatest enemy, and they’re doing everything they can to ridicule and avoid all things French. Here’s the latest moronic step in this pointless and petty endeavor:

Are America’s friendly skies becoming too French?

Next year, passengers will be able to decide for themselves through a new law that requires airlines to include information about each plane’s “country of final assembly” on the safety placard inside each seat pocket. Because there are only two major airline manufacturers in the world, passengers flying on any large jet are likely to learn that their plane is made in France, by Airbus, or in the United States, by Boeing Co.

Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s aviation subcommittee, quietly added the provision to last year’s Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act to provide “the consumer with information,” he said.

He notes that Airbus airplanes now make up half the U.S. market. Airbus, a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., has been steadily encroaching on the turf long owned by Chicago’s Boeing Co., which is the only major U.S. player left in the industry after years of consolidation.

By the time you are prodded to read the safety card, the plane is already taxiing. If by that time you don’t know you’re on an Airbus jet, and are just learning that Airbus is based in France, well… what are you going to do? Demand to be let off so you can switch to an American-built plane?

Moronic. Truly moronic. This is just more France-bashing with no other purpose or effect. How is this going to make Boeing’s business any better?