I haven't had enough time to develop this thought, but the government has taken it in their hands to ground some of the SouthWest airplanes for not complying. Apparently the FAA missed the proverbial boat on this too. If SouthWest can be fined for failing to conform with the 'rules' what is the recourse for the FAA ? 
I've worked at an aviation group in the past as an IT guy. My experience was that every mechanic and technician was completely aware of the need for the constant Zen and the Art attitude it takes for safe flying. Here's a blog comment, presumably from a mechanic that I found just after this incident was revealed.
After the jump.
As a 25 year veteran in aircraft maintenenace I can tell you that far more than just the SWA planes that are out of compliance. Technically, they are flying illegally, and as such are technically unsafe (a legal term). Does this mean they are actually unsafe to fly? No, it does not. The insepctions they are referring to require a complicated protocol for what is a very easy inspection. Arm and pivot stress (rudder), skin buckling and wingtip cracks (something not mentioned in the report) are easy to examine and notice.
The protocols mentioned above are overkill. They were written by Boeng lawyers and not engineers or mechanics after the two incidents mentioned. It also goes to warranties that Boeing was on the hook for. The protocols are equivalent to a doctor being "required" by the government to give your kid an MRI whenever he comes in complaining about a sore throat.
I can tell you that many other airlines are now scrambling to get their paperwork in order. It is too bad that SWA will take an unjust hit for this. They are one of the few that actually make money and spend heavily on maintenance equipment and I would not hesitate to put my own family on their planes. Many carriers outsource their maintenance to other airlines and even to other countries. Although I work for a major carrier, I do not work and have never worked for SWA.
--Keep flying. It's much safer up there. (typos by author)
The market anarchist or Austrian school would be very explicit with the moral and situational ramifications of this breech to the state. I thought this guy summed it up pretty well.
I just went back and looked at the original article and can't find this comment anymore. Perhaps it is still there, but it wouldn't be surprising to see it yanked by old CNN.
Yes, the chaos could have been prevented;
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1730285,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
http://www.strike-the-root.com/wp/archives/231