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US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

thedailybeast.com

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Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#41

Post by throwaway173738 »

inglor_cz wrote: post #28
bobthepanda wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It kind of is https://www.faa.gov/about/budget/aatf The problem is that tax collection also happens with congressional approval.

This seems to be a somewhat inefficient system. There is no absolute need to consider aviation fees to be taxes and collect them through a federal agency. Individual airports should be capable of financing their local ATC as they see fit, be it their own airport fees or, IDK, a surcharge on hamburgers sold in the local McD or a gift from a wealthy sponsor; and they should only have a duty to maintain certain technica…

There’s a whole network of radars and communication centers that are not part of any specific airport. How would you fund that through use fees at an airport?

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#43

Post by tbrownaw »

tayo42 wrote: post #22
8note wrote: post #8

why are traffic controllers government employees at all? wouldn't it be better for the government to maintain a standards/licensing body and only have a couple on staff as a "traffic controllers of last resort" during emergencies? when an traffic controller quits, what job can they go to? clearly not another airport

Why would it be better to have this job be driven by profit? It's a service provided to the public. Seems like a natural fit for being run by government. The only thing is this funding situation for this government is dumb. Otherwise we wouldn't be talking about it.

> Why would it be better to have this job be driven by profit?

Er, to avoid it being used as leverage during government infighting?

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#44

Post by andy99 »

I don’t know US specifically but I know a bit about Canadian air traffic controllers. It’s a high stress but very well paying job with good pension etc. But I suspect there’s not a lot of opportunity to change to another job and get the same pay and benefits. So I guess I wonder what the end game is in resigning? Is it just people taking some pre-specified early retirement option, is it early career people that just are cutting their losses? Unless I’m missing something it seems like for someone mid career at least, waiting it out seems like the only real option.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#45

Post by phantasmish »

jacquesm wrote: post #32
ecshafer wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

You have your parties muddled up. The democrats are not in power.

Plus Trump's fighting in court to keep from having to release (as very fucking clearly required by law) SNAP funds that are already allocated by congress for exactly this kind of situation. Whatever your opinion on the rest of this, that part's certainly, 100%, on him personally.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#46

Post by slg »

ecshafer wrote: post #29
slg wrote: 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…

[flagged]

At some point the opponents of authoritarianism have to draw a line in the sand. If the American government is going to fall, this is as good of a line as any. Because simply conceding here would just empower the aspiring authoritarian to push harder next time.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#48

Post by themafia »

slg wrote: 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…

That this is happening is an indication that power has been seized already.

What do you think their goals with the power are? To make your life miserable? No, clearly, all they care about is the wealth and it's profits. Which they're already swallowing whole.

You _already_ live in their prison.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#49

Post by fzeroracer »

slg wrote: 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…

Well, there's one critical flaw which is that Trump is also fucking up with the military. A lot of military members are going unpaid, and many more are going unpaid and their family isn't receiving snap benefits. An authoritarian trying to seize power without the backing of the military is bound to lead to failure, and even though money is being funneled into ICE enmasse they're an untrained legion of goons with little access or ability to use actual military equipment.

If push comes to shove we're not going to get an authoritarian takeover, we're going to get a military coup. Unless they wake up and realize they need the guys with the hardware to do their whole fascist takeover thing.

Re: US air traffic controllers start resigning as shutdown bites

#50

Post by abenga »

ecshafer wrote: post #29
slg wrote: 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…

[flagged]

MN Negotiations are two sided, what do the democrats get in exchange for this?
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