Live data from Hacker News

US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

bbc.com

91–100 of 612 posts

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#93
At the risk of introducing a political topic into this supposedly apolitical subject, why shouldn't any president simply make demands and then shut down the government until his/her political opponents cave? Seemingly this strategy will not work ever again for either party if proper steps are taken. It seems like a terrible abuse of executive power.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#94
post #50
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of people come for the atmosphere and other festivities. I'm sure the actual number of people visiting town for the game is closer to 200k than it is to 50k.

Is this really true? I understand diehard fans going to tailgate parties, but don't the vast majority watch the event at a bar or at home?

This article suggests 125-150k visitors for past Superbowls: http://www.startribune.com/a-million-super-bowl-visitors-est...

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#95
post #52

Bearing in mind that ~40% of american's could not come up with $400 to cover emergencies, this is going to become more prevalent in the next few days / weeks as people will simply not be able to afford gas to get to their unpaid work. I read an article today discussing how TSA workers in HI are living in their cars in the airport parking lot as they cannot afford to commute. The FBI just cancelled its internship prog…

If you got to any bank website at least the ones I bank with, there is a flashing notice on the front page, if I were a federal worker who needs assistance due to shut down. I am sure, certain workers have easy ways than others but to say that at least some banks have not stepped up is incorrect.

Some banks may be giving out loans, but they aren't going to be for everyone. Not everyone is 100% guaranteed to be able to return to their job after the shutdown. Banks know that.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#96
post #38
post #2

Was the fall of Rome this embarrassing as well?

No country is without it's issues. Not excusing what's going on though. With that out of the way, what substantive arguments can you make that leads you to think this is anything like the fall of Rome?

It's not my favorite analogy. Probably something closer to the government of early modern Poland: so paralyzed by dysfunction that it couldn't effectively govern or respond to novel threats.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#97
post #52

Bearing in mind that ~40% of american's could not come up with $400 to cover emergencies, this is going to become more prevalent in the next few days / weeks as people will simply not be able to afford gas to get to their unpaid work. I read an article today discussing how TSA workers in HI are living in their cars in the airport parking lot as they cannot afford to commute. The FBI just cancelled its internship prog…

If you got to any bank website at least the ones I bank with, there is a flashing notice on the front page, if I were a federal worker who needs assistance due to shut down. I am sure, certain workers have easy ways than others but to say that at least some banks have not stepped up is incorrect.

You are giving credit where it isn't due. Are these loans conditional on a good credit score?

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#98
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Genuine, is it very cool when now there's possibly going to be a generational shortage of ATC people in the near future possibly as a direct result of this?

Sometimes tough decisions need to be made. Especially those that are to improve things in the long term, even if it hurts in the short term. That's what being a man is, being able to make hard decisions.

My argument is that we are in the long term now. The long term is a generational labor shortage as a result.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#99
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it'd be slavery if they couldn't quit.

Members of the Coast Guard are not allowed to quit. They are under UCMJ rules. EDIT: For those that don't know the Coast Guard is not part of the Department of Defense. They are under DHS and are not getting paid and are not allowed to quit.

The USCG may not be part of DOD, but it's still part of the US Armed Forces.

The US Supreme Court has historically deemed conscription to not constitute involuntary servitude as banned by the 13th Amendment. I suspect the same logic would apply here.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#100

Even without the shutdown, the U.S. air traffic control system may experience greater strain in the years to come due to a generational deficit in the number of new air traffic controllers being trained and staffed: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryncreedy/2016/01/28/contro... This may have been an issue with Reagan firing all members of PATCO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Air_Traffic_Contr... Whereas…

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm going to check it out.
Post reply on HN