RE: Because God knows that the last thing we want in air transportation are safety rules.
How about HEAVY HANDED safety rules?
Why is mandating a minimum level of experience 'heavy handed'? Should we do away with minimum hours altogether and let the airlines decide? Let them decide who sits in the left seat, who sits in the right seat, how many hours they can fly each week or each month? Remove the 'heavy hand' altogether?
The only reason this is 'government interference' is that it interferes with the airline's ability to get pilots at the minimum wage. God forbid they should have to pay what they're worth.