WTF?

I worked from home today. Nasty chest cold or bird flu. I had CNN on, and there was a big deal made about an airline passenger bill of rights. It seems many people have been more or less held hostage on planes for 3, 4, 8, 11 hours as the planes sit on the tarmac in bad weather because going back to the gate would cause the plane to lose its place in line. And these hostages do not get adequate air, food, water, or bathroom. Why do airlines do this, and why do we need legislation to tell the airline companies to provide water??