Posted on 07/25/2007 12:01:21 PM PDT by VRWCmember
For years, many conservatives took the position that government has only two valid functions — deliver the mail and defend our shores.
I don’t want to get into an argument about the quality of mail service today but let’s add a third function of government to that list: get us on our airlines flights in time so that our vacations aren’t put at risk.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Sorry, Marty, it's not the government's responsibility to get you on the plane in time -- it's yours. Also, if your scheduling was so tight that a weather delay caused you to miss a connecting flight, then again that is your poor planning to blame.
Martin laments the inconveniences he suffered on a recent international trip, but thinks that since the government agencies involved are doing such a crappy job the answer is for congress to impose additional regulations.
“get us on our airlines flights in time so that our vacations aren’t put at risk.”
Nope. Lets keep this off the list. Next you will want movies to start on time.
a third function of government to that list: get us on our airlines flights in time so that our vacations aren’t put at risk.
I have an idea: Let’s amend the Bill of Rights to include a right to a smooth-running vacation!
The Founding Fathers meant to say we all have a right to life, liberty and Las Vegas with no hassles.
Oh yeah.
The federal government always speeds things up.
Darn right. I want congress to pass a law that the movie has to actually start within 2 minutes of the listing time. I want congress to require that if I pay $9.00 for a movie ticket I don't have to sit through 5 minutes of commercials and 5 minutes of trailers for coming attractions before the movie starts 10 to 15 minutes later than the posted movie time. I'm not a smart enough consumer to make choices myself so I need Congress to make a law that the movie theaters must run the way I want them to run. (I hope a sarcasm tag isn't necessary)
I’ll agree with the Las Vegas idea but only if they include the idea that I can win at the card tables. I think Congress should take care of this. Good Lord knows they don’t do anything else.
He’s got a point. The FAA is a mess. They’re running the same equipment they were using when I started flying. They have failed repeatedly to update the equipment and congestion is growing. It seems like pilots are announcing gate holds and ATC delays on a regular basis even when the weather is good and it’s due to congestion. Here’s a link to a good site.
http://www.aviationplanning.com/asrc1.htm
But what's really frightening is that when the average person suffers a great hassle or inconvenience, he might mutter in a moment of irrational frustration, "There oughta be a law!". When a Congressman suffers a great hassle or inconvenience, he might actually pass a law.
He may have a point, but his solution is more federal government. PLUS, I wonder what his position was on the democrat attempts to unionize the TSA workers.
I fly several times a year. I’m not having the problems I keep seeing in these articles. No problem with TSA and the screenings. No problems with my luggage.
None. Nada. Zilch.
I’ve come to realize those having these ‘problems’ were having the same problems long before 9/11 happened.
As the old saying goes ‘Piss poor planning on your part does not constitute a crisis on mine’.
Congratulations, Martin! Your Government has heard your complaint and is here to help you. In order to facilitate your request we have taken charge of your vacation. You have been placed in Standby Reserve for your flight. To find out what this means please dial 1-800-706-4343 ext 2381. Be prepared to stay on the line and have your personal information ready.
If the timetable is unsatisfactory, please dial 1-800-422-6565 ext 2905 for a listing of alternate destinations. Be prepared to stay on the line and have your personal information ready.
Yeah, and to never have to face gridlock on freeways. We definitely need an amendment for that, too. /s
The solution would be to divorce the FAA from the DOT and return it to it’s status as an independent federal agency. As long as the govt claims a monopoly on managing the airspace they have a responsibility to update it.
The FAA problems are right in line with problems at other Federal agencies like FEMA and Homeland Security which can’t seem to deal with the issues they’re mandated to work on. In my opinion, it’s systemic. I think the Federal bureaucracy is broken at every level.
I’m an elitist and fascist at heart.
Exactly. His problem wasn't that the FAA is doing a bad job, but rather that he did a bad job of planning his trip.
My initial trip was scheduled to be from Washington Dulles to Athens, Greece, with a flight connection at New York Kennedy. When I arrived at Dulles, I was informed that my flight to Kennedy had been cancelled because of weather and that I would need to take a cab to Washington National, a shuttle to New York's La Guardia Airport and a cab to Kennedy. I did all this, arriving at Kennedy 45 minutes prior to departure but was barred from even entering the terminal handling international flights because the flight had already been called for boarding.Anytime you are taking an international flight that includes a flight connection, you should allow several hours (if not an overnight stay) at the connecting airport to allow for contingencies. Either find a direct flight from your point of origin or allow for delays in arriving at the connecting location. Simple free market solution that requires no congressional action to get your happy butt onto your flight for your vacation.
Note the bio blurb “Frost served a diverse district...”
WHO CARES??? Does serving a diverse district (what’s diverse? the people? the cats? the cars? the lawns? the mailboxes?) automatically imply superiority?
The US Air Traffic Control System should be privatized, as they did in Canada and Australia.
The Canadian System is much more efficient than the FAA and their equipment is far more modern. (FAA still using tubes in their radar receivers).
It’s ironic that even a quasi-socialist country like Canada recognized that privatizing the ATC system was the best choice.
I’m with you, there. And separate breathing space for the anyone around me, who’s coughing like typhoid mary.
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