Will flight delays stir up ire against sequester?

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 23 Apr 13 | Patrik Jonsson

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

but to give in now means the Govt can never be cut ANYWHERE.

If we're lucky, a full-frontal attack on government spending might get us a spending freeze for a year.

So yes, we have to fight the bastards as hard as we can at every opportunity.

[SkyPilot]

Your assumptions about me are incorrect. I don't work for the FAA, but I am a pilot. I am also a military veteran and care deeply about the destruction that has been inflicted upon the nation's military during the last few years.

but to give in now means the Govt can never be cut ANYWHERE. Get it?

I disagree. What has to cut and fiscally reformed are Entitlements. These are the biggest drivers of our debt and deficits.

I have political whiplash listening to our GOP masters on Sequestration and the budget. First, they hated the idea of Sequestration. Then they said they agreed with it but that it should never happen. Then they said (correctly) that Obama's OMB Director Jack Lew came up with the idea, but they admitted that they agreed with the formula that punished Defense spending inordinately. Then they campaigned against it in the fall, with Paul Ryan penning an article co-written with Rep "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) condemning Sequestration's effect on the military.

Military-Crippling Sequester Must Be Stopped - By Reps. Buck McKeon and Paul Ryan - May 9, 2012

Then Ryan embraced Sequestration as a wonderful concept in January. Then the GOP said the cuts were a joke and so small that no one would notice, but they tried to intervene against any cuts that harmed jobs, people, bases, or programs in their state or district. Then they mocked Sequestration as only affecting White House Easter Egg Rolls and Tours, until the military started implementing cuts that Congress forced upon them, to include delayed depot maintenance of ships, deployment of aircraft carriers, and readiness of Air Force combat wings - and then the GOP feigned outrage that these cuts were being implemented.

The U.S. Air Force as you know it no longer exists: beginning today, 17 combat units grounded April 9, 2013

Here is how the GOP needs to regain its sanity:

- Adopt a "Simpson-Bowles" esque approach to the FY14 Budget process that addresses long term Entitlement explosive growth vs. tax reform and replaces Sequestration

- Include in the reform a demand that the worst of the Entitlement abuses (Social Security Disability and Food Stamps) are examined by a separate panel that can recommend real, tangible reforms

For instance, the British government was able to lop off over 870,000 of their disability fakers by simply sending them letters scheduling mandatory physical exams. Why can't we do that?

If we don't address the real causes of our debt and deficits, our entire government will be nothing but an ATM machine in 10 years.

[central_va]

What has to cut and fiscally reformed are Entitlements.

Has nothing to do with the current sequestration fiasco.

Entitlements need to be addressed but giving into this political BS spectacle is not going to help either cause. Calm down.

[Cyber Liberty]

Sorry to hear that. A FReeper friend was about five hours late in an arrival. A couple weeks ago.

[OA5599]

I wasn’t trying to make the case that there were never any delays prior to the furloughs.

You said it this was all theoretical until you’ve heard from someone actually being delayed. I gave you an example.

Her delay was not due to a maintenance or flight crew issue, and weather appeared to be excellent. Furlough related? That’s my best guess as she flew out of one of the airports most affected by the furloughs according to many news outlets.

Her return flight was at least 45 min late so far. Before turning off her phone, she said the captain warned of flight being delayed by more than an hour.

[Cyber Liberty]

This is sounding more like a union work slow-down than anything else. There is no reason to impede air traffic, these Furloughs are not necessary. The "sequester" cuts in increases in budget could have been spread in other areas than the guys watching radar screens. Or are the remaining Air Traffic Controllers deliberately slowing the traffic?

The only thing that makes sense is Obastard is trying to make this hurt for the most people. And there is great risk...but the Republicans will be blamed for it.

The progs can't lose! Don't fly the next few weeks, though.

[OA5599]

I was suspecting a work slowdown too. (I’m a supervisor in a union shop; know that all too well.) Agree with you on all points.

And unfortunately I do have a flight in a few days. Work related and too far to drive. Wish me luck!

[Cyber Liberty]

By all means, good luck. You’ll be fine.