Sequester DCA
The thought occurred to me that -- when the sequester kicks in and the FAA starts furloughing air traffic controllers -- air traffic controllers should sequester DCA.
Sequester: (Verb) Isolate or hide away
If I were king, I wouldn't let another lobbyist-CEO-toting business jet in, nor would I let an airplane carrying a Congressman out. Not until they rescinded the sequester.
Yes, I know this is a fantasy. And I know that me talking about it will make the powers-that-be in NATCA all squirmy. I can only say these things because I'm retired. And, for the record, I haven't said one word to NATCA (or anybody at NATCA) about this. Nor have they talked to me (for years.) It isn't some coded message for anybody. It's just me being me -- retired me.
But, lets concentrate on the squirmy part. There was a time when controllers ran slowdowns just to get better pay and working conditions. And one of the major targets in those slowdowns was DCA. How did we get from there to here? How did we get from a country where working people stood up for themselves to a nation where they cower in fear lest someone take away their health insurance?
That's a much bigger problem than this sequester. Take this to the bank: No one gives up power willingly. And right now, these are the people that have the power.
If you let the people with that wealth/power leave it all to their children, you'll have the modern-day equivalent of Princes, Dukes and Kings. That is a reality far more important than air traffic control.
The government has your attention because "they" are messing with your paycheck. Right now, you should be figuring out who "they" is. It's the people keeping the Republican Party in power in the House of Representatives. In short, it's rich people spending enough money to buy the propaganda they need to win. And lately, even that hasn't been enough. Although, there are those in your midst that still think it in their best interest to vote Republican.
Logic doesn't always win. People aren't always rational -- even those smart enough to be controllers. Good doesn't always triumph over evil. At least not right away.
I hope you'll use the opportunities in front of you to further the cause. Collectively, there is no smarter group in the U.S. Government than controllers. There are groups with more expertise in various fields but trust me, they aren't smarter. Think about what is best for your profession, your country and humanity in general. Do well. Do good. Do something. Get involved.
Make this a better place than you found it. A better place for your kids and your neighbor's kids. Sure it's hard. Everything in life worth doing is.
Don Brown
March 7, 2013
Comments
In America if you are Free, you may withhold your efforts. There may be social and economic effects but you may do so. It follows that if you cannot withhold your efforts, you are not free.
In America, we have a law that workers may unite and form Unions, and that Employers must recognize and respect these unions. Industry hates these laws.
Some Unions are forbidden by Law to withhold their efforts due to the nature of their work and are generally offered other accommodations for that.
You might withhold your efforts all at once, putting the tools down and walking away; or your might withhold your efforts incrementally, a missed gap here and a late turn there.
When the gap between Wealthy and Working becomes too great, at one time the workers would withhold their efforts and force a reckoning. This requires two things; the workers must be united and acting in a union, and the "industrial action" must have a painful effect upon the capital.
These days so very few workers are in unions, but even worse - so very few workers are required for production; capital has automated the people out of the process, and so it's not nearly as difficult to break a walkout.
And then again, now a lot of times the workplace is global and the action isn't effective, and now different workforces whipsaw against each other, competing for poverty.
If you can't hurt the Man on the production side, you have to hurt them on the sales side. Industry has been making citizens into consumers for a hundred years, using the very best of science and psychology and media. Can you stop being a consumer for your own good?
In the situation you talk about Don, I wonder if that's not anachronistic. The boys of 1968 and Operation Air Safety mostly got fired in 1981.
The class of '82 is half-gone, and the other half is just counting days; not likely to rock boats.
The NextGen Gen (which is the LastGen if you buy the hype) I don't know if it's realistic to expect this of them. How do you run a slowdown/work-to-rule when they're flying STARs?
It's a very difficult situation for the guys who are working. I agree they're the smartest, they're awfully smart, but I don't know that an answer from the 60's is the answer for the Teen's.
Cheers, V.
In America if you are Free, you may withhold your efforts. There may be social and economic effects but you may do so. It follows that if you cannot withhold your efforts, you are not free.
In America, we have a law that workers may unite and form Unions, and that Employers must recognize and respect these unions. Industry hates these laws.
Some Unions are forbidden by Law to withhold their efforts due to the nature of their work and are generally offered other accommodations for that.
You might withhold your efforts all at once, putting the tools down and walking away; or your might withhold your efforts incrementally, a missed gap here and a late turn there.
When the gap between Wealthy and Working becomes too great, at one time the workers would withhold their efforts and force a reckoning. This requires two things; the workers must be united and acting in a union, and the "industrial action" must have a painful effect upon the capital.
These days so very few workers are in unions, but even worse - so very few workers are required for production; capital has automated the people out of the process, and so it's not nearly as difficult to break a walkout.
And then again, now a lot of times the workplace is global and the action isn't effective, and now different workforces whipsaw against each other, competing for poverty.
If you can't hurt the Man on the production side, you have to hurt them on the sales side. Industry has been making citizens into consumers for a hundred years, using the very best of science and psychology and media. Can you stop being a consumer for your own good?
In the situation you talk about Don, I wonder if that's not anachronistic. The boys of 1968 and Operation Air Safety mostly got fired in 1981.
The class of '82 is half-gone, and the other half is just counting days; not likely to rock boats.
The NextGen Gen (which is the LastGen if you buy the hype) I don't know if it's realistic to expect this of them. How do you run a slowdown/work-to-rule when they're flying STARs?
It's a very difficult situation for the guys who are working. I agree they're the smartest but I don't know that an answer from the 60's is the answer for the Teen's.
Cheers, V.