To Reach Simple Life of Summer Camp, Lining Up for Private Jets

[onehandle]

Source: New York Times

Gov. Paul LePage of Maine happened to be waiting for his flight at Augusta State Airport on a recent Saturday when the weekend crush began. A turboprop Pilatus PC-12 carrying Melissa Thomas, her daughter, her daughter’s friend and a pile of lacrosse equipment took off for their home in Connecticut, following the girls’ three-week stay at Camp All-Star in nearby Kents Hill, Me. Shortly after, a Cessna Citation Excel arrived, and a mother, a father and their 13-year-old daughter emerged carrying a pink sleeping bag and two large duffel bags, all headed to Camp Vega in Fayette.

“Love it, love it, love it,” Mr. LePage said of the private-plane traffic generated by summer camps. “I wish they’d stay a week while they’re here. This is a big business.” For decades, parents in the Northeast who sent their children to summer camp faced the same arduous logistics of traveling long distances to remote towns in Maine, New Hampshire and upstate New York to pick up their children or to attend parents’ visiting day.

Now, even as the economy limps along, more of the nation’s wealthier families are cutting out the car ride and chartering planes to fly to summer camps. One private jet broker, Todd Rome of Blue Star Jets, said his summer-camp business had jumped 30 percent over the last year. This weekend, a popular choice for visiting day at camps, private planes jammed the runways at small rural airports.

Officials at the airport in Augusta said 51 private planes arrived between Thursday and Saturday; on a normal day, they would expect just a few. The airport was so busy that one of its two public runways was closed so all the incoming planes would have someplace to park, said Dale Kilmer, operations manager for Maine Instrument Flight, which operates the airport. “We have 50 to 60 jets up here in just that one day,” Mr. Kilmer said. “It’s a madhouse because they all leave at the same time, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/nyregion/to-reach-simple-life-at-camp-lining-up-for-private-jets.html

---

All's right in the world of the 'job creators.'

[aquart]

1. These cocooned princes and princesses are going to be dangerously useless.

Mind you, they will think they came up the hard way. (No maids at camp.)

[tsuki]

22. I can't wait to see their videos on Youtube in a few years. Probably

rival Paris Hilton. NOT.

[kestrel91316]

28. These cocooned princes and princesses will get appointed to

corporate boards of directors. They are the CEOs of tomorrow. You DO realize that the people at the top do absolutely nothing to merit their compensation, right? And it's all about nepotism.

[joshcryer]

87. Nepotism and cronyism permeates every aspect of our society.

Try to get a job in local government.

[KurtNYC]

2. they don't want their kids body scanned so they spend $3k/hour

for a jet.

[karynnj]

25. I think the main issue is that the camps are in remote areas

not near the regular airports.

[kestrel91316]

29. And we can't have the little darlings sit in a boring car and make the boring trip

from the major airport to camp on boring public roads.......

[karynnj]

35. I suspect it is to not have the parents sitting in the cars

I can't imagine sending kids off in private jets with all the stuff for camp. I guess the camps must meet the kids on the other end and take them and their stuff to the camp. I guess the families could ship a lot of the stuff ahead.

My kids went to camp in NE PA (Poconos), which was an easy, about 1 hour drive in a totally stuffed minivan! I had a hard enough time accepting letting my then 10 year old go that far away for 4 weeks. She had to argue very hard for that!

[badgerpup]

82. I lived in the lap of luxury...

We had an ancient, cracked-seat school bus to take us to Girl Scount Camp. :wow:

It was high enough in the mountains that of COURSE some of the campers got carsick...:puke:

We didn't even have cabins; slept on cots in sleeping bags 'under the stars'.
It gets chilly at night in the mountains, even in the summer.

We DID have running water (told ya...luxury :P ). The bathrooms were called 'pine-ies' because they were scrubbed out
(by US CAMPERS, on a rota) with Pine-Sol^TM.

Good times...:crazy:
No, actually, they were rather fun. Even if the owl did scare everyone the first night...

:hide: "A GHOST!"


(prepubescent girls...whattaya expect...:shrug:)

[xmas74]

83. My kid's GS camp had permatents.

It was a basic wooden frame with canvas that could be pulled down to cover. No indoor plumbing-outhouses for bathrooms and an open air shower with a curtain around it. (Didn't matter-they didn't take showers at all that week. Guess they thought swimming in the muddy water was clean enough.)

[KamaAina]

51. Augusta IS a "regular airport"

it has commercial flights to Boston. Of course, that's part of the Essential Air Service program the repukes want to kill, 'cause who needs that when you have private jets? :eyes:

[karynnj]

54. Sorry, I don't know Maine well and misunderstood the article

which spoke of long drives to remote areas. It is really strange that they are chartering private jets for this. Unless maybe these camps cater to people so wealthy that is the way they live. Seems very wasteful and much more complicated than just buying tickets -unless these are families that own the private jets.

[hobbit709]

3. Living proof that the rich aren't taxed enough.

[humbled_opinion]

55. You are so right... Raise their taxes whats the worst thing

that can happen, I mean if they start cancelling these trips then the small airports, private airline administrators, office workers, maintenance workers and other blue collar type jobs that make these things possible will all suffer, but hey at least they will pay more in taxes...

You can't hurt the rich with tax increases, but the rich can hurt the economy if they feel tax increases reduce their spending ability in the private sector.

Or

Worse yet they will take their business outside of the USA. Study the Yacht taxes that were implemented in the 1990's the only people hurt were American workers and the economy lost much more money then the tax provided in revenue to the US govt.

I am all for everybody paying more in taxes but lets do it through major reform to the tax code not some knee jerk that will wind up hurting the very folks that people claim it will benefit.

[EC]

64. you mean to tell us that if these people had to pay 3% or so

more taxes, they wouldn't be using the private jets? They are likely using them this year because of the heat and I'd bet they would still use them even if they were paying higher taxes.


These people really do not know how much money they have, nor do they give a shit about prices..so I'm sure that paying more in taxes isn't going to stop them from spending. I'm just as sure that most of them don't even know how much they pay in taxes. That's what they have accountants and lawyers for, they don't concern themselves with any of this.

[humbled_opinion]

78. You just nailed the real crux of the matter..

The rich don't pay their fair share in taxes now, they are not altruistic, we live in a Capitalist economy fueled by selfish greed. If the rich really cared about the plight of ordinary Americans than they would forego any deductions on their income tax returns.... I get a laugh when Obama stands up there and says, "People like me don't need any tax cuts" Well lets see your last tax return, I will bet Obama's accountant didn't miss a single "DEDUCTION"....

The argument is unwinnable and unless there is a drastic change with a completely new Fair system then the rich will never really pay and the rich will be in the best position to take advantage of the greatest share of loopholes and gimmicks.

Your right they pay accountants to handle all the details but I bet if that accountant wasn't saving them some serious coin they would find themselves without a job real quick.

Another important point is that your 3% increase will not do very much at tackling the enormous debt that the country finds itself in.

[firehorse]

81. "only the little people pay taxes" - the plane ride is probably a tax write off

[Auntie Bush]

4. These are the people who can't afford more taxes....but the poor can? Sickening!!!

[Warren Stupidity]

16. the regular people should work until they are 70

so that the elites can afford their jets. Otherwise something horrible.

[freshwest]

47. No, they should work until they drop dead. You missed the memo.

[avebury]

5. K&R

[sulphurdunn]

6. If you claim to have done a little

business during the trip, I wonder if you could write if off?

[cyberpj]

7. Standard Practice, I can assure you. nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

62. I knew a trust-fund baby who did just that with daddy's jet.

He would fly all over the country on the company's dime. Dad didn't care because he could write it off (jr. held a no show title/job). Jr. just had to claim visiting a client or one of their offices.

That's what cracks me up the most about idle rich and their screaming bloody murder when it comes to "death taxes". They live almost their whole lives tax free - company jet, company car, company "retreat" condo, etc. etc.. But suggest they pay taxes on the same lump of cash/stock/business when they inherit it and it's a crime against humanity.

[No Elephants]

8. Tell me again how unfair it would be to raise taxes on the folks

who damage the environment most and put the most wear and tear on our infrastructures.

[raouldukelives]

14. They don't care about the future

They live for today. Let the poor kid in the future born without the chance to breathe or know what a redwood tree is worry about it then.

[LeftyMom]

9. Wasn't there a thread the other day about how bad the poor are for the environment?

:rofl:

[formercia]

10. I live on the Flight Path to Trenton (Bar Harbor) Airport

It's almost a constant sound of Private Jets coming and going, during certain times of the day.
In the 19th Century, Rich Folks used to take the Train or Boat to their favorite Summer Cottage for the Summer. The Tracks are mostly disused now save for a section where a local private organization has restored a section of Track and give rides in the Summer to generate income for maintenance. Most of the labor is volunteer. Too bad some of that money the Rich save on Taxes couldn't be spent restoring the Rails, but, then, the poor folks like us would get to ride the Train as well. That would disrupt their experience, let alone, cost them too much of their valuable time,

[Gormy Cuss]

19. But it's good for business to have all those general aviation flights

and that's all that LePage cares about.

You're right that the wealthy have always had the means to travel in grand style to their summer "cottages." It is a shame that passenger rail doesn't exist in most of the state. It is possible to take buses to some coastal communities but those don't have the same charm. The Downeaster is doing well and they're already talking about taking it north of Ptld. Maybe some day...

[MineralMan]

11. Meanwhile, in NYC, kids have another kind of summer camp

to attend. No jets involved:

Here, Kids! Here's your Summer Camp!

[BadtotheboneBob]

12. Eat... the... Rich...

sauted in garlic-butter with portobello mushrooms... A nice Merlot would go well with.

[AlbertCat]

73. garlic-butter with portobello mushrooms... A nice Merlot would go well with.

Sounds like you might have to be rich to eat the rich.

How about with a Coke and fries.

How about just eating the clueless rich.

[BiggJawn]

89. I'll fire up the grill n/t

[plumbob]

13. Nope. Anything I say will be construed as wishing ill on pampered

parasites, so I'd better stay quiet.

[leveymg]

15. If it's any solace, Melissa may have to drive the Benz up next week if the FAA stays shut down.

Boo hoo. :nopity: :cry:

[Eric J in MN]

17. If the TSA chose private jet passengers at random to be frisked,

...the same as the TSA randomly chooses general aviation passengers to be frisked, then the TSA would have been abolished by now.

Because the rich can avoid the TSA, they aren't bothering to use their political power to abolish the TSA.

[Aviation Pro]

40. Wrong terminology....

...commercial aviation vice general aviation.

[Lifelong Protester]

18. I just read about 25 of the more than 200 comments left at the

NYT site with this article. Most are pretty disgusted about what this says. Only a couple are 'praising' the wealthy for 'making it' in this country and not 'listening to the entitlement junkies'.

Nice, huh? "Entitlement junkies" was actually used as a phrase in one of the comments by a reader who was in support of this practice. If you want what you have paid for, I guess, then you are a baddie in this society.

[boycottfaux]

48. Entitlement?

Or luck?

Wouldn't want the rich little kiddies to sweat on a bus like
the other kids.  It's just reminds me of the TYCO CEO who had
soooo much money, what do do, he bought a $6,000 umbrella
stand.  Guy is now in jail . .

[bellcrank]

20. Actually, a "private" jet, as opposed to one carrying ticketed passengers, contributes as much

to the job market and economy as one in the airline service...and also benefits thousands of communities that derive zero benefit from commercial aviation. I find it a little amusing how many people (I know a lot of them) who hate the "rich" with such passion that they invest big bucks in lottery tickets in the hopes of becoming one themselves.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of outrage over the most opulent and expensive "private jet" on the planet...the one (several, actually) called Air Force One when POTUS is aboard...

http://noplanenogain.org/index.php?m=51&s=410&id=106

[onehandle]

23. Out of reach of 95%+ of Americans.

Sorry AF1 offends you so. I trust you felt that way when the last guy was running away from 9/11.

[bellcrank]

24. Don't be sorry, I'm not. What do you mean about "the last guy"?

That makes no sense to me. As for "out of reach of 95%..." so what? There are millions of things in that category. Would you suggest the government should buy a Learjet for anyone who wants one? I'm a newbie here so you can probably imply lots of devious things to me with impunity...I've noticed how much hatred there is publicly expressed toward anyone here who strays one millimeter from whatever the current approved positions are.

[HughBeaumont]

26. "Would you suggest the government should buy a Learjet for anyone who wants one?"

:rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes:

Yeah, RW hyperbole-speak's gonna win hearts and minds. That sounds like something straight outta the mouth of Eric Bolling.

[Enthusiast]

88. You were not supposed to notice. ...nt

[Generic Other]

27. Why would you join our "hate" website if we are so bad you noticed it?

That is what makes no sense.

[kestrel91316]

32. "The last guy" would be a reference to your beloved Dubya.

[louis-t]

52. One thing you are missing, Mr. Newbie....

No one would begrudge wealthy people their expensive summer camps and private jets if Grover "Christ Almighty" Norquist hadn't spent the last 10 years complaining the rich are taxed too much. The "wealth creators" are only creating wealth for themselves.

[Atypical Liberal]

70. Here is a suggestion for you:

Would you suggest the government should buy a Learjet for anyone who wants one?

Of course not.

The fact that people are able to fly their kids to summer camp on private jets is merely indicative of the problem in this country that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a tiny portion of the population.

Why does this matter?

First of all, with wealth comes power. Thomas Jefferson realized this and worked to include restrictions against business monopolies as part of the framework of this nation. When you have the Forbes 400 richest Americans controlling as much wealth as one half of the country, those 400 people probably have more influence over government, and thus government policy, than half the country. This seriously undermines democracy. And how do these people use that influence? Almost certainly they use it to make sure that policies get in place that protect and enhance their financial interests. This causes a snowballing effect where wealth buys influence which generates more wealth which buys more influence, and so on.

Secondly, when less and less of the population has wealth, it becomes harder to generate tax revenue from a broad tax base across the country. Already 50% of the country pay no taxes. As larger and larger portions of the country have wealth worth taxing, this tax burden will shift to a smaller and smaller portion of society. This opens up the potential for the people paying taxes to be a voting minority.

Thirdly, when real wages for the majority of the citizens of this country continue to decline, as they have for 30 years, it means that there is less and less opportunity for more and more Americans. Oh, yes, it certainly still is possible for anyone in this country to become wealthy. But the trend over the last decade is that most people's means are declining, not increasing. So becoming wealthy is very much an exception, not the rule. The majority of citizens in this country are now in a position where they will be less prosperous than their parents, as will their children. This means less opportunities for these people, and their children, than their parents were able to take advantage of. Less vacations, less college, less consumer demand.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wilt the stilt]

31. No doubt where you come from

read Al Franken's supply side Jesus. It fit's you.

[renegade000]

33. For people who shell out $10K per week for exclusive summer camps...

I doubt having the price of chartered private airplanes increase a little is really going to dissuade them from using them...

And how disingenuous can you get about Air Force One? Really, it's a "private jet"? At least you put the quotes around the phrase, perhaps realizing it's just inane innuendo as opposed to a relevant observation. Do you really think people ought to be outraged that the elected head-of-state in a democratic republic has access to a dedicated and highly-protected means of transportation (note that he/she doesn't own it for whatever whim he/she desires, like sending his/her kid to a summer camp)?

on edit: it's actually 10K for seven-weeks, which is not as mind-blowing ridiculous (though still very pricey).

[Demit]

34. We don't equate a head of state with a kid going to summer camp.

If you really need the 'lack of outrage' explained to you.

[av8rdave]

42. Were you outraged when your hero was using it?

How about St. Reagan? The one he used was incredibly inefficient and dirty.

[Doctor_J]

44. I would guess not

Big Deficits and runaway government spending just started with Obama - that's what Limpballs told him anyway

[indurancevile]

65. oh, sure.

[Atypical Liberal]

68. Welcome to DU

I think you'll find this forum probably won't fit your political views.

People are not outraged at people flying their kids to summer camp on private jets because of the impact on jobs.

They are outraged because a tiny minority of people in this country control so much wealth that they have disposable income for such trivialities.

Trying to compare the imbalance of wealth in our country that allows such extravagances to the travel arrangements for the President of the United States is kind of silly.

[jmowreader]

86. You forgot one

They are ALSO outraged because certain persons (Grover Norquist, specifically) should not ever be asked to pay taxes, and the Republican Party has done its level best to make that happen.

[snagglepuss]

80. One of the only ways people can make a decent living is to cater to the rich

because they're the only one with disposable incomes. That said their gated lifestyle, far removed from the mainstream is troubling.

[AlbertCat]

21. Is the Repug attack on the FAA gonna affect this?

Or do the only send their kids to camps in red rural districts?

[Butch350]

36. Will the last reader leaving the room please turn off the lights.

[wilt the stilt]

37. They cut their heads off in the French revolution for this

type of behavior and the nobles asked "why".

[Smilo]

38. Well seen as

they are spending money on those essentials, we had better give them more tax cuts. /snark

[QC]

39. Clearly, the rich are too heavily taxed! n/t

[surrealAmerican]

41. Those poor, poor, rich kid camps ...

... can't even afford to send a bus to the city for the kids anymore. See how the rich are suffering in today's economy.:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Doctor_J]

43. Boy, if ther regular people in this country ever get serious

it is going to be a very, very long month or so for these people.

[JJW]

45. Success!

Those tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires are finally getting trickled down via expenditures on the spoiled brats.

[boycottfaux]

46. JOB CREATORS

Sooo glad the JOB CREATORS are still riding in comfort . .

[trud]

49. Someone at the Times wants taxes raised on the rich

Last week it was treehouses costing what a real house costs, now this.

[jakefrep]

50. Am I the only one....

...who is way more bothered that these rich folks don't seem to want to spend time with their kids, than with the fact that they have private jets? I'm tired of putting parents who have more money than sense on display.

Geez, if you're going to pack them off to camp for SEVEN weeks, spend a little time in the car DRIVING them to camp. The jet seems to be just for the parents' convenience to get them back to the office/country club/Hamptons/whatever.

I don't begrudge anybody who can afford a private jet, mostly because, in all honesty, it would be the first thing on the shopping list if I had the means.

I don't have a problem with sending kids to camp, but 7 weeks? And sending them to camp in a private jet seems at odds with the purpose of going to camp (getting away from all the modern luxuries).

[klook]

75. Me too

Like the lady who was so pleased at checking off the annoying obligation to visit her kid at camp in just 6 hours.

[xmas74]

84. I couldn't handle seven weeks without my kid.

I develop a cold sweat after one night away. Seven weeks is far too much.

[Bozita]

53. That's on the frontpage of the NYT's print edition along with a photo

[onehandle]

56. Same with the web edition this morning. nt

[InvisibleTouch]

57. Boy, the jealousy in this thread is rampant. n/t

[patrice]

60. A valid observation. What do you think the jealousy quotient might be if everything were the same,

except for people's roles in the situation being reversed?

[InvisibleTouch]

77. Not sure exactly what you're asking...

Do you mean, if the people who are currently poor were transported into rich people's lives, and vice versa? In such a case, the jealousy would be equal, IMO, on the part of the suddenly have-nots. I do think that those who have been poor would be more aware of the struggles of others and would be more inclined to help, than those who have never had to give it a second thought.

I struggle to pay my bills and feed my family, but it doesn't make my life any better to envy those who have it easier than I do. To be eaten up with rage and envy would just make my own struggle harder. I prefer to focus my energy toward the positive aspects of my own life.

[patrice]

79. I was trying to suggest in "everything being the same" that it wasn't a sudden role reversal, just

different people living those lives. The ones who are poor and jealous now, those very same persons, living their entire lives as the rich (whom they currently envy) and the ones are rich and unjust now, those very same persons, having lived their entire lives as the poor (whom they currently have contempt for).

I agree, the jealousy would be the same.

Just trying to point out that jealousy, though negative & possibly destructive, is very understandable.

[PotatoChip]

69. I don't view it as jealousy.

I've read this entire thread and to me it came off more as justifiable anger.

Most of us are really feeling the economic burden of this poor economy, but apparently not the very wealthy who continue to send their kids off to expensive summer camps in private jets.

Yet the republicans are fighting to keep the status quo, this growing gap, while attempting to chip away at social safety nets. Safety nets that more and more of us are beginning to realize that we ourselves may need if things continue the way they have been going.

The OP's article serves as tangible proof of this fact far better than numbers on a chart can. THAT imho is what this really about.

[Bennyboy]

58. Girl softball team takes private planes to tourneys.

From Denver. Was talking to one of the parents and they all fly all over the country to 20 tourneys a year for their girls (ages 13 t 15 if memory serves me) to play in tourneys. Not big ones all the time either.

One of the Dad's is corprotate attorney and lens them the plane for the weekends.

[patrice]

59. You shouldl have heard Mike Pompeo whining about losing the corporate jet TAX BREAK & threatening

jobs in Wichita in the process.

Mike, what's wrong with Boeing's BUSINESS MODEL that it is soooooooooooo dependent not only upon such a specialized ELITE market - AND - AND - AND - apparently NEEEEEEEEEDS that narrow margin that I/we have to provide for you/Boeing to avoid paying the REAL overhead on their profits?

[riverbendviewgal]

61. Obama should not raise taxes on these poor people

I feel so sorry for them. LOL.

[harun]

74. It would break my heart if they had to sacrifice and use Coach luggage instead of Gucci.

Break in two I tell yah.

They have suffered enough already. It is time for the poor to suffer to ensure the rich don't have to do ghastly things like drive to a summer camp instead of using the private charter.

:sarcasm:

[EC]

63. The Hampton's would have been crowded with the rich

rather they got tax cuts or not...

[high density]

66. Maine just cut our taxes on airplanes and plane parts

So rich people, please come to Maine with your planes. We have no money amongst ourselves so please trickle down some cash into our economy.

Of course I pay full sales taxes when I buy a car or car parts in my state, but I am just a lowly underling so I should pay my fair share.

[SpankMe]

67. I'm split on this.

If non-uber-rich people are cramming a half dozen kids on a plane and getting prices close to commercial airfares in order to get to the camps from far away, then I have no problem with this.

But, if we're looking at mega-richies shuttling their precious snowflakes up there in Lear jets onsees-twosees with in-flight movie and prepared meals, then they're irrsponsible and crass. It's their money to do with what they wish. but, it's immoral when you have a crashing economy and school budgets being cut.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

71. This makes me sick to my stomach

[WoodyD]

72. The problem here

is not "jealousy." It's not "boo hoo, I don't have a private jet." The problem is anger over decades of policies that drive inequality. The problem is people working two minimum-wage jobs without any benefits, struggling to make ends meet. The problem is the ever-shrinking middle class having to choose between health care and their mortgage. The problem is the person laid off months ago, facing the end of unemployment benefits and no "job creators" creating any jobs. The problem is that WE are being asked to pay more, work harder, work longer, make less, give up benefits we've worked damn hard to earn. These sacrifices really hurt. For us, sacrifice means we can't afford our medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. It means our dreams for our kids have gone from getting into a good college to getting a job at McDonald's. We're being told we have to give up things that really matter. Meanwhile, the "job creators" are sacred. They can't be asked to sacrifice stuff important to them, like private jet rides to camp for their kids.

We've sacrificed enough. We've seen our paychecks shrink, benefits and jobs vanish, even while we're being asked to work harder - hey, someone has to do the work of those people we laid off. We're not angry because someone else has a jet. We're angry because our hard work is punished while the greedy fatcats who tanked the economy in the first place are the ones with the jets.

[woo me with science]

90. Thank you. nt

[guruoo]

76. To do list: Win Powerball, arrange for 50 inner city homeless kids summer @ Camp All-Star

[Lugnut]

85. That's disgusting. n't