I'm angry that the Senate makes time to fix the ATC problem, but ignore or block . . . .

[Stinky The Clown]

. . . . every other damned thing that heads their way.

Yeah, I get it. Lots of good reasons to fix that problem. But there are even greater reasons to stop cuts elsewhere. Like . . . . . name one . . . . how about meat inspectors? As but one example.

Have some fun. Name other fixes that should have happened before ATCs?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. STC

I'm not sure it WAS as big a deal as it has been made out to be.

We flew in on a direct flight from Costa Rica to NEWARK (read - new hell airport) on Tuesday night and even though we had to circle in the air for 25 minutes for landing - we still ended up at the gate 15 minutes earlier than expected arrival time. On the worst airline eveeeeeeeeeeer -United.

I think this the airline lobby acting like the gun lobby - nothing more and nothing else.

[Savannahmann]

2. How about Meals on Wheels

Or Social Security. Or Head Start.

The other question is why didn't we take the money from experimental weapons design, or better yet, cancel one F-35 Stealth Jet, and have enough money to cover the Sequestration? Wouldn't that have made more sense?

[Cleita]

16. Those programs don't inconvenience them. Delayed flights do.

Amazing when it concerns their comfort and well being, the problems are immediately solvable. Time for Occupy to traffic jam the routes to the airports in DC. More missed flights might make them go back and reconsider all of the above.

[Savannahmann]

23. I'd bet money they would come up with a Politician only traffic lane.

Like the carpool lane, but a death penalty offense if you aren't a member of the Political class, to make sure they get where they are going quickly. Or they'll just fly helicopters from their office to the airport.

[newfie11]

3. This affects them

So of course they must fix it. The hell with the rest of the mess that affects others.

[Triana]

6. That's EXACTLY it. n/t

[redqueen]

22. Yep. This problem affects them and the haves (their big donors).

The have-nots can go piss up a rope for all they care.

[denverbill]

4. I don't understand why we are subsidizing ATC.

ATC should be paid for completely by individuals and corporations who use the airports. Why are poor people subsidizing air travel for the wealthy?

[byeya]

7. This is a good old idea that doesn't get repeated often enough. Let the flying public and the

private plane users pay for all airport related expenses.

[synapticwave]

14. because poor people benefit from well run airports too

The food that's shipped across the country, the business and personal packages that are time sensitive to keeping businesses competitive and medicine for those that need it. All of that helps everyone in the country. It keeps consumer prices lower and helps people stay safe and therefore we all have a duty to help contribute to keeping the airline industry running smoothly and that duty is to pay our taxes.

Plus, "the poor" are paying very little income tax as it is so they're not really subsidizing much. We can have a good discussion over our income tax brackets, what minimum wages should be, and how we should defined "poor" and I suspect we'd end up in close alignment there. But right now, the federal government has decided, "the poor" pay about 2% on income tax so they're not really subsidizing air travel in any real manner.

[denverbill]

15. You think poor people are getting a lot of food that is shipped by air?

The only foods I'm aware of that are shipped by air are fresh seafood and high end produce and I guarantee you poor people aren't exactly eating a lot of either of those.

If I want to eat fresh lobster flown directly in from Maine to Denver, I should damned well expect to pay the full cost of the food, and not expect hard-working taxpayers to subsidize my luxuries.

[synapticwave]

18. I think a lot of people (of all income levels) eat the following

Bananas
Sugar
Blueberries
Tomatoes (did you know we import fresh tomatoes from the netherlands?)
Pineapple
Many other basic agricultural products

All of which are transported by air within this country at different times of the year. Do some research, don't assume that because the first food that pops into your is seafood that nothing else could possibly be transported by air, just do some minimal googling before posting if you aren't an expert.

But putting food aside, my real point was that consumer goods and medicine and all kinds of other materials are also flown all over the country. Part of our economy revolves around prompt delivery via air travel and the health of our economy affects every single one of us and therefore we all have a stake in keeping that economy running smoothly.

[denverbill]

19. Bananas and sugar?

Bananas are picked green and shipped by boat. I can't imagine any reason to send them by air. They've been sent by boat for the last 90 years. Why would anyone spend 10 times more to ship bananas by air.

And sugar? What is the shelf life of sugar? Who the heck would find a reason to send that airmail. Can you give me any sort of proof that sugar and bananas are predominantly shipped by air? My guess is if anyone sends either of those by air, it's some sort of specialty high-end banana and/or sugar that has an exceptionally short shelf-life and is geared towards high-end consumers.

Blueberries, tomatoes, and pineapple I can at least understand, but how many people on food stamps are buying fresh produce versus canned, when canned costs 1/4 as much.

[SDjack]

5. Fixing their ATC problem is self-serving. Members of Congress want to get home each weekend

to pump their yahoos for campaign contributions. If they don't keep the money flowing and maintain the local voter loyalty by public appearances, their challengers will seize the opportunities. Probably, other agencies will be reduced to make up the cost to run the ATC system at full capacity. Good candidates for additional cuts: EPA, NSF, DOE, IRS.

[vi5]

8. But the Republicans don't have 60 votes!

So how di this get passed? i mean they are the obstructionists who cater to the wealthy and they don't have 60 votes which is clearly needed for anything to pass in the Senate, right? I mean obviously our wonderful Democrats who are so drastically different than the Republicans would never vote for this or allow it to pass, right?


If it's not obvious, this is sarcasm. Once again our spinless Democratic party caves.

[BethanyQuartz]

9. Meat Inspectors

Definitely a big one in my book. Not as big as helping people not be homeless or hungry, but it looms much larger than business execs and vacationers being able to fly to where they're going on time.

[dawg]

10. It shows that the Magna Carta is still, mostly, in effect.

The King doesn't have absolute power. He still needs to make sure he doesn't piss off too many of the nobles. They still matter. To some extent, even the lesser nobles matter a little.

The peasants, of course, are still property.

[cantbeserious]

11. The Airline Industry Pays Better - Always Follow The Money

eom

[bvar22]

12. Hey! Our "BETTERS" need the ATC.

We don't want the 1% to experience any inconvenience in their commutes.
Inconvenience is for the peasants.

[geek tragedy]

13. Head start, meals on wheels, cancer treatment, etc etc etc nt

[Cleita]

17. Occupy in Washington, D. C. You now know what will make them jump.

Time to organize blocking roads to the airports so that our law makers start missing flights when they have to leave on weekends, holidays and vacations. Use cars to jam the routes causing a traffic jam and then get the H out of there when you hear sirens. Maybe this time they will get the message.

[Fumesucker]

20. That's not true, they passed a repeal of the Congressional insider trading law

So you see, they can too get stuff other than the ATC fix passed.

[kentuck]

21. Because they all have accounts and are looking to make more money....

Insider information sure can help make a quick windfall.