Live data from Hacker News

US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

thedailybeast.com

171–180 of 397 posts

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#171
post #16

I know many of the people reading this will think I'm being hysterical. But there was a small voice in the back of my mind when the shutdown started wondering whether that version of the American government would ever reopen and that voice has started to become much louder in recent days. Specifically the combination of this, the handling of SNAP benefits, and this all happening in November just seems intentionally d…

Maybe. But having 10%+ of all Americans panicking after missing a few meals is also enough to topple a country. There’s not a whole lot that can unify the different political factions of the US, but going hungry gets people focused on necessity and to deprioritize the shallow / vapid aspects of politics. Arguably it’s China’s governing body’s biggest single fear. I currently think this government shutdown is unlikely…

> Arguably it’s China’s governing body’s biggest single fear.

Why China's? What you said is true in any corner of the globe.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, exactly. I second this. Time to repeal the president before this gets terrible.

The process of repealing a president (impeachment) is a political process. Republicans could do it at any moment, so every day they don't is an endorsement of what the president has done, continues to do, and even what he threatens to do.

Repealing a dictator is extralegal.

This country is founded on the principle of being able to spot the pretexts (tariffs, terror-driven deportation, selective refugee status of whites fleeing black majorities, dissolving of social nets, rampant corruption) to monarchy-authoritarian leadership.

It will happen all over again here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_I...

We're all migrants here, we're really the enforced guests of Native Americans whose land we occupy.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe. But having 10%+ of all Americans panicking after missing a few meals is also enough to topple a country. There’s not a whole lot that can unify the different political factions of the US, but going hungry gets people focused on necessity and to deprioritize the shallow / vapid aspects of politics. Arguably it’s China’s governing body’s biggest single fear. I currently think this government shutdown is unlikely…

> Arguably it’s China’s governing body’s biggest single fear. Why China's? What you said is true in any corner of the globe.

China is the world’s most populous country with an autonomous governing body that doesn’t always respond to the voice of the people. And their leadership knows that multiple previous Chinese governments were toppled after the people were famished.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that Trump and the left have the same view on this government shutdown as they’re both acknowledging how Republicans control both houses, I wouldn’t say this is part of any plan he has. Trump has called for the Senate to remove the filibuster, which would allow for the government to reopen with a simple majority instead of needing more votes from Democrats One could say the only endgame is unilateral control Bu…

Trump needs to sooth the Senate with the message there will be no midterms.

lmao that could actually work, scary

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hahahahahahahhaa the arsonists aren’t going down with it, the arsonists are on mansions in a private island watching it go down. The idea that the people in power will _lose_ power as a result of widespread unrest is bananas. The only people watching the house burn are those with an insurance policy out on it.

The supporters are the people who keep voting Republican while Republicans (the arsonists) are stripping them of their SNAP benefits and ACA subsidies, while also dismantling the federal government out of ideology. The wealthy might influence (they spent over $40M to influence the NYC mayor election and still lost, for example), but the voters are the root cause.

It's quite literally a cult now. It doesn't matter if the house burns down, they'd still rather die in the fire than let woke liberals "win".

If the house burns down, we'll be both poor and surrounded (and led) by neo-Nazis.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#176
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US hasn't been perfect, but you can hardly say we've ruled the world terribly. Because who has ever ruled it better? We helped Europe and Asia rebuild after WWII instead of conquering them. To the extent that our previous enemies in Germany and Japan now have some of the strongest economies in the world. There have certainly been wars, often with dubious justification or horrific results, but good luck finding an…

> but you can hardly say we've ruled the world terribly. "Terribly" is definitely a fair assessment. > who has ever ruled it better? Blatant whataboutism. > instead of conquering them "I protected them in so many ways, cared for them as if they were my own children. But to this day, is there a single statue of me on Bajor?"

I love the DS9 reference. But it also reminds me of Hamilton:

    You'll be back, time will tell
    You'll remember that I served you well
    Oceans rise, empires fall
    We have seen each other through it all
    And when push comes to shove
    I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love!

The idea that the world was better off under American rule is so deeply ironic that my brain is breaking.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#177
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is true that democrats are not in the majority. However, it is factually true that 7 more democrats must vote for S.3019 (for a total of 60 votes) for the government to re-open. Ref: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/119-2025/s609

Has the leading party made any efforts to convince any 7 of the other party? Were there reasonable concessions? If you don’t have the majority you have to negotiate, otherwise dissolve government and let the people vote again.

I’m not sure if you’re being tongue in cheek or not but the US government doesn’t really function like a parliamentary one. Elections can’t just be called, governments can’t just be dissolved, and any sort of coalition is within different factions of the two major parties.

Republicans hold a majority in the Senate (which is akin to the upper house, House of Lords, or whatever else) but in order to forcefully end a filibuster (cloture), you must get 3/5 of the senate to vote for it (60 votes since there are 100 senators)

The filibuster used to actually involve senators standing and speaking since the senate generally does not limit the amount of time that a senator may speak. Today it’s just a threat of filibuster. It’s controversial but neither party really wants to get rid of it.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The supporters are the people who keep voting Republican while Republicans (the arsonists) are stripping them of their SNAP benefits and ACA subsidies, while also dismantling the federal government out of ideology. The wealthy might influence (they spent over $40M to influence the NYC mayor election and still lost, for example), but the voters are the root cause.

It's quite literally a cult now. It doesn't matter if the house burns down, they'd still rather die in the fire than let woke liberals "win". If the house burns down, we'll be both poor and surrounded (and led) by neo-Nazis.

I get the reasoning and I think it’s colourable. But I can’t help but be irritated having grown up hearing nothing but “Liberty or death” rhetoric of American identity, only to find it was all a pathetic cosplay.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#179

It's wild ATC isn't funded by use fees instead of being appropriated by congress. Seems like a good opportunity to provide some mechanism so the government has to shit or get off the pot, because if the government won't do the job the airlines would surely be glad to pay for the service themselves.

> the airlines would surely be glad to pay for the service themselves. No, they would be glad to increase fares so that the flying customers pay for the service themselves. Currently, ATC is subsidized by all tax payers. Your method moves the burden to only those that pay for fares. I'm just pointing it out not saying it is good/bad.

> Your method moves the burden to only those that pay for fares.

Well they are the ones flying why do I have to subsidize them?

I'm obviously borderline joking, but you get the point.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

[flagged]

> That's what PJ's means. It means pyjamas, it always has.

I read it as pajamas. And I bet you enjoy burgers with chips rather than fries.

But the point still stands.

Post reply on HN