The Airlines: Need I say more

Even though I probably don't, of course I will. Been doing a lot of travelling lately. Business, since I will probably never fly for pleasure again unless I have to cross wide expanses of water. No longer is travelling by air an experience in anything but stress, frustration and futility. Tempers are short, customer service is starting to reflect the Wal-marting of the airline industry. Whom can we blame but ourselves. As a whole people valued nothing more than the price of a ticket. Take Southwest. People were all too willing to be hearded like cattle into a plane, or line up hours in advance like a Star Wars premier to count on being able to sit with loved ones, all to save $50 over a major carrier ticket. I can't recall but one time on a Southwest flight where I didn't hear a plea for someone to give up their seat so a parent and child could sit together. The response around us was often, they should've shown up earlier or something along those lines. Yes let's blame those folks instead of ourselves for creating an airline where such events were acceptable and commonplace. Let me state for the record that I only travel Southwest because my business dictates the carrier I must use for certain flights. I would never choose to fly Southwest if I the decision were my own. As market forces will have it, the majors have been forced to lower their standards of service to keep ticket prices competitive. I have heard good things about Jet Blue, but haven't had the opportunity to fly them yet. Let's hope there is at least one exception to this price is more important than value mentality this country it getting.
OK and what about those people who think it's perfectly acceptable to take their shoes off on a packed plane? Just who do you think you are? Or how about the folks that reek of stale smoke. Air travel used to be something people got dressed up for, a special event, now it's just like a high speed bus ride. The problem is there is no fresh air option on a plane. Again, as my previous post stated, just take a little forethought and think about how your lack of manners might affect those around you.
It is also quite obvious that TSA is understaffed. Since 2001 I have seen 2 hour security lines go down to 10 minute lines and now its back up to over an hour, and getting worse. A plane trip of less than 2 hours often takes 5 hours or more with check-in, security, baggage and the other associated headaches of air travel.
I like to think the airlines are on the verge of waking the sleeping giant. I for one will choose to drive to my vacation destinations and will only use air travel out of necessity. The stress of trying to fly at the beginning and end of a week off negates the positive aspects of the vacation.