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US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

bbc.com

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Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#381

Post by yaks_hairbrush »

harshulpandav wrote: post #311

Why can't US government give an official statement to all its employees guaranteeing future payment of the work done during shutdown? And banks should be able to give personal loan over that statement. Interest paid over that loan can be reimbursed by the govt once shutdown is over. (I am not an economist; It is just my opinion)

(1) The US government did just that -- promised backpay for all unpaid work during the shutdown.

(2) Banks may not wish to give loans to folks who have bad/no credit, even with the assurance. Banks need a bit more than assurances that the government will pay their debtees -- they need assurances that they will get that money.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#382

Post by tyrust »

Grollicus wrote: post #356

This is by far not the first shutdown, nor is there any indication it will be the last. I'm wondering why under these circumstances anyone would even want to work for the US government? Obviously there are people near to their pension years who will want to complete them, but they would usually have some money. But young people? If your boss is an asshole, just quit! Why would that be any different in the public sect…

Not everyone has the luxury of quitting.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#383

Post by Shivetya »

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #87

I hope not too off topic, but I'm puzzled by shutdowns. Every other country I can think of has a system where if the finance is not agreed, the previous budget just continues. The budget sets the yearly amount for each department and it runs on until another budget changes how much everyone gets. Sometimes a new department gets created, sometimes something is abolished. Everyone gets their salary and services run on.…

First off, the FAA should be privatized like it is in Canada and other countries, then it would not be beholden to a non customer.

Second shut downs are structured as they are because Congress does not like the check and balances the Constitution tried to establish between branches of government.

By making shut downs painful on the public, the employees of the government to include its soldiers, they can force a President to accept whatever budget they come up with. There is no line item veto, Congress would never dare give up that power. So it comes down to putting sufficient pressure on any Administration so they understand who is boss.

They simply ran into someone who could call their game and honestly its the best result ever. We worry all the time about Administration overreach in this country with each change in whom is elected but the real overreach has always been the US Congress. The two parties do everything in their power to keep the game to themselves which means making it nigh impossible for anyone but them to change the rules.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#384

Post by posterboy »

gdubs wrote: post #146
sremani wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I’m curious what the interest rate is. Because if you’re already tight enough to need a loan, the interest is gonna cut pretty deep, even if it’s a relatively low rate. My fear would be predatory terms targeted at a vulnerable group.

Any regular employer would be liable for incured damages because of breach of contract. Is that any different with the government as employer?

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#385

Post by chrisrhoden »

bertil wrote: post #200
exogeny wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very painful? Why not just take out a loan? Wilbur Ross whole-heartedly recommends it!

I like to pile up on Wilbur Ross as much as the next guy but I’m genuinely curious about that one. I understand that many people involved will be paid once the situation is resolved and that no one expects the US government to crumble in the near time. Surely, an enterprising bank manager would love to offer (Federally?) guaranteed loans given the circumstances. There has been an explosion of peer-to-peer lending in…

The loans wouldn't be federally guaranteed, for any meaningful definition of the phrase.

If you're deemed to be credit-worthy it doesn't really matter, and if you're not it doesn't really matter if you have a federal job. The federal government won't be paying back the banks if the employees fail to pay the loans back.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#386

Post by dwighttk »

theandrewbailey wrote: post #345
lolsal wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's really surprising to me - my favorite college football team regularly sells out their 100k seat stadium during the regular season. Seems like the superbowl is leaving a lot of money on the table.

No joke, the largest college stadiums are bigger than the largest NFL stadiums. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._stadiums_by_capac...

well, fwiw Cowboys Stadium can expand to 105K and has had multiple events at that capacity, which would put it at #3 on that list.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#388

Post by gammateam »

dawhizkid wrote: post #134

Interesting thing I discovered when I was concerned about SFO delays is that SFO is one of the few airports in the U.S. that does not use TSA for security...it hires its own private security officers. Edit: For those curious, these airports have private security (SFO is by far the largest as far as I can tell): https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/screening-partnerships

> Interesting thing I discovered when I was concerned about SFO delays is that SFO is one of the few airports in the U.S. that does not use TSA for security...it hires its own private security officers.

Yeah but this article is about the FAA staff, not the TSA or security staff.

SFO's private security has no bearing on this outcome.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#389

Post by 0xfeba »

sparkie wrote: post #306
akhilcacharya wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this country was actually run like a business, the CEO would be fired by now.

If the country was run like a business, they wouldn't be in business, they would be bankrupt. The purpose of a business it create wealth. The purpose of government is to take wealth. Government does some useful functions with the wealth it takes, but extremely inefficiently. Private enterprises which are profit motivated consistently outperform government on budget, quality and time.

> but extremely inefficiently

Is there a reason government is inefficient?

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#390

Post by sgjohnson »

growse wrote: post #264
rhexs wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Holy hyperbole. Call me when layoffs start happening, back-pay isn't actually paid, the pension and generous vacation schedule goes away, etc. If these jobs were so terrible the employees would be clamoring to leave. Instead, the employees realize the benefits are worth it and are still trying to stay. Why are these public jobs considered "god-given rights"? I work in the private sector. If I don't get paid, I have t…

Ah yes, all of those federal air traffic controllers that should just go and work in the lucrative private air traffic control industry.

Privatizing the airports would make them private sector employees.
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