Bailing out SAA may be the very definition of insanity
Every few months the same thing is done as was done before, even though the results are as unsuccessful as the results from the round before
There is a saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” It’s often attributed to Albert Einstein, but he isn’t the one who said it. It isn’t the definition of insanity either — but it does describe a trait we could call crazy. Our species tends to repeat past mistakes hoping our “good intentions” will be enough to change the results — this time. It also describes government policy with regards to SAA. Every few months the same thing is done as was done before, even though the results from the last round were as unsuccessful as the results from the round before that. SAA, begging bowl in hand, comes to the government asking for bailouts. Politicians line up to explain why the faltering airline should be allowed to reach into the pockets of taxpayers yet again, while SAA officials solemnly promise that, this time, things will be different. Then, a few months later, it starts all over again — the only change being that SAA’...
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