It was the Air traffic controllers

[mnhtnbb]

who broke the shutdown in 2019 when they didn't show up for work. How long will they wait this time? Any bets?

I'm supposed to fly to London a week from today. Not looking forward to it, even on a direct flight not out of a major east coast city.

[mercuryblues]

1. Idk

But it weighs on my mind.

I am flying to LA tonight. I would rather be stranded there than stuck at home.

[mnhtnbb]

2. May your flight be uneventful

I hope I get to London! Only there overnight, then the train to Scotland for two weeks. My hope is that this doesn't go on long enough that I get stranded in London when it's time to come home. I'll be out of money by then!

[mercuryblues]

3. Same to you.

Luckily for us, we'll be staying with our daughter.

[Attilatheblond]

4. I figured the TSA employees could end this, forgot about the power of Air Trafic Controllers too.

How the shutdown ends Robert Reich Oct 03, 2025

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-the-shutdown-ends]

Starts with brief history of how these overworked/over stressed essential workers force an end to the 2019 shutdown. Goes on to point out the situation now.

My prediction: This shutdown will end sooner than the last one. Air traffic controllers will ensure it does. Within the next few weeks, a few will call in sick. Then the flight delays will cascade.

At that point, pressure will suddenly mount on the White House and Republicans in Congress to end it.

Why on the White House and congressional Republicans and not on congressional Democrats? Because Republicans now control the government — the presidency, both chambers of Congress, and, effectively, the Supreme Court. They own it.

They and Trump will be blamed for the shutdown, and they’ll have to get the nation out of it — even at the cost of giving in to congressional Democrats.

The TSA workers can also throw a lot of wooden shoes into the machinery that makes our economy go round. TSA and Air Traffic controllers: JUST STAY HOME until the GOP stops this extortion and caves to protect affordable medical care.

Make all those cowards in the GOP who refuse to do their job deal with furious fat cats who won't be able to travel and who see their stocks plummet.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. I'm wondering the same thing...

...we're flying to Orlando in two weeks, and I'm wondering if the shutdown will still be on.

[SocialDemocrat61]

6. Have fun in London

Remember to ask for asylum.

[mnhtnbb]

7. Actually only overnight in London

and then train to Scotland for two weeks. Never been. Really excited about it. Planned as my last international trip. It's been a lot of work putting it together, and at 74 I don't have the energy I once had.

[SocialDemocrat61]

8. But still remember to ask for asylum

😕

[mnhtnbb]

9. haha

We--my late husband and I--tried many times to set up an escape. We actually owned property in Panama for awhile, wanting to escape Shrub. Made an offer on a condo on Bonaire in 2015, but my husband wouldn't go through with it. After he died in 2018, I toyed with the idea of a look see months long visit to both France and Portugal to see if I wanted to move abroad. I have friends in France. But I waited too long, then the Pandemic hit and I totally abandoned the idea. Bought a small single level house near both my grown sons. I've been encouraging them to look abroad, and said I'd go, too. But I no longer have the energy to go it alone moving to another country.

[DFW]

10. I can sorta relate.

I could envision moving to another country if my wife came with me, but not on my own. I'd either stay here in the German Rheinland, move closeby (Switzerland or Netherlands) or back to the States (probably Massachusetts).

But don't freak me out with 74 being too old to do things!! I'm 73, and just this week, I was in Paris Momday, Brussels Tuesday, Utrecht (NL) Wednesday, back to Brussels yesterday, then back down to Paris this morning, and just got home to Düsseldorf at midnight. Doing some last minute paperwork, checking in here with DU, and then have to be in Duisburg (Ruhr Vally town) tomorrow morning. Next week is probably Spain, Switzerland and back to Paris. If I slow down, I think I'd melt!