Part of the CEO job is making the tough decisions. Typically, that means the ones that make the most people unhappy. Arpey has done that and the company is better for it. In a very "today" mindset, he has put AMR in a position to be there for tomorrow. Most people don't realize that he can't look at a lot of things the same way they do. An individual line employee only has to worry about their job and thier pay & benefits. The CEO has to do what it takes to preserve all those things and keep customers and shareholders happy. Yes, AA service isn't what it used to be, but neither is the price of fuel. Neither is the price of an airline ticket adjusted for inflation. Something has to give. It's easy to look back and say AA was better...so was the price of fuel and the price of a ticket. So were healthcare costs and a littany of other things. If you don't see those things and have to look at them as part of the pie, then they are of no consequence...unfortunately, Arpey does. He does look at those things and makes decisions that make AMR better. It's a tough business and it requires good people. Gerard has done things that have made some people in each constituency very unhappy. I think that a better measure...probably means everyone is having to compromise. Top people at AMR went without pay, not bonuses...PAY after 9/11. Does anybody look back at that and say anything. That was a good thing. Not much credit given there. He gets A LOT less than others in the industry who have destroyed the value of their company on top of employee morale and customer service. What is the yard stick being used here folks? This isn't shan-gri-la so it must be torture?