B737 CAPTAIN REPORTS HIS ACR IS PUSHING PLTS TO EXCEED CONTRACTUAL AND FAR LIMITS DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF PLTS. REFUSES TO FLY TRANSCONTINENTAL TRIP DEPARTING WITH A FATIGUED FO.

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PLT PUSHING: ACR X RAN OUT OF AVAILABLE RESERVE FO'S IN LAX FOR OUR LAX-ZZZ1 FLT SO THEY SENT AN FO FROM ZZZ2 WHO WAS ON DUTY SINCE EARLIER TO DEPART LAX AT XA43 THE FOLLOWING MORNING (2 PLT CREW). HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON DUTY IN EXCESS OF OUR CONTRACTUAL AGREED UPON 14 HRS FOR DUTY DURING WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE 'WINDOW OF CIRCADIAN LOW' (WOCL) FOR THIS FLT LAX TO ZZZ1. THE FO CALLED HIS CHIEF PLT PRIOR TO DEPARTING ZZZ2 FOR LAX KNOWING THAT IT WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CHIEF TOLD HIM TO; 'JUST GO TO LAX AND SEE IF YOU ARE FATIGUED AT THAT POINT' ('PLT PUSHING'). THE FAA ALLOWS 16 HRS ON DUTY DURING 'WOCL' (AND THAT IS RIDICULOUS AS WELL). ACR X WAS TRYING TO GET THE FO TO VIOLATE CONTRACT AND COMMON SENSE AND 'PRESS ON' UP TO FAA MAX TO COMPENSATE FOR UNDERSTAFFING DISREGARDING SAFETY. NASA HAS DONE FATIGUE STUDIES AND NEEDS TO ENLIGHTEN THE FAA ON FINDINGS (THE AIRLINES COULD CARE LESS) MORE FORCEFULLY BEFORE WE (THE TRAVELING PUBLIC) HAVE A BIG HOLE IN THE GND. NEEDLESS TO SAY I EXERCISED MY CAPT'S AUTH (FATIGUE) AND WE DELAYED DEP UNTIL THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON AFTER 8 HR REST.