The Next President is...

[HeloDude]

39 minutes ago, uhhello said:

ATF Overlords aren't working my forms....

All the more reason to not need the ATF to “work” these forms.

[uhhello]

7 hours ago, HeloDude said:

All the more reason to not need the ATF to “work” these forms.

Shut down but kind of sorted like

[Sua Sponte]

On 10/16/2025 at 5:58 PM, brickhistory said:

Clinton/Gingrich shutdown back in early 1990s lasted 30+ days.  We survived.  

That shutdown lasted 21 days. It’s currently the second longest shutdown behind the 2018-2019 shutdown during Trump’s first term. The current shutdown is currently at 17 days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shutdowns_in_the_United_States

Edited yesterday at 12:05 AM by Sua Sponte

[brickhistory]

14 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

That shutdown lasted 21 days. It’s currently the second longest shutdown behind the 2018-2019 shutdown during Trump’s first term. The current shutdown is currently at 17 days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shutdowns_in_the_United_States

I stand corrected...we didn't survive.

[Banzai]

On 10/17/2025 at 7:58 AM, FourFans said:

Dude.  Put down the big media talking points that say this is a binary problem created by republicans.  It takes both sides and no one cares about Epstein, that scumbag and all the people who visited him from both parties are nothing more then chaff.  The shutdown is the result of both parties being populated by raging narcissists who haven't breathed the same air as the average citizen for decades.  They want you pissed at "the other side" so you don't do anything relevant to remove incumbents from power.  Aim your ire at the real culprits: the people you voted for.

It’s not though.

This isn’t about “media talking points.” Adelita Grijalva’s election was certified by Arizona’s secretary of state, the House majority simply refused to schedule her swearing-in. That’s on the official record. The last time Congress blocked a certified member from taking the oath was over a century ago, and it was condemned by both parties as a constitutional failure. Calling that “both sides” is just factually wrong. Only one side controls the calendar.

As a point of order, earlier in this Congress, new members from special elections (e.g., two Florida Republicans and a Virginia Democrat) were sworn in within 24 hours of their election, while the House was not in full session. Just wanna confirm that your alls response as to why this time is justified is the Gov shutdown? Can we just get that one on record?

You say “no one cares about Epstein.” That’s convenient and pathetically incorrect. The issue isn’t the man, it’s whether Congress will release federal files that may implicate powerful people from both parties. That’s transparency, not gossip. Brushing it off only shows how partisanship outweighs curiosity about corruption.

And sure, both parties have their narcissists, but equating systemic obstruction with ordinary dysfunction is a false balance. Trust in Congress has dropped from nearly 70 percent in the 1970s to about 20 percent today. That decline tracks perfectly with the rise of tribal loyalty over constitutional duty.

We all swore an oath once. It wasn’t to a party, and it wasn’t to a personality cult. Watching people on this forum who once understood that retreat behind cynicism and call it realism, it’s hard to decide whether that’s sadder or more dangerous.

Edited yesterday at 08:42 PM by Banzai

[Lord Ratner]

1 hour ago, Banzai said:

It’s not though.

This isn’t about “media talking points.” Adelita Grijalva’s election was certified by Arizona’s secretary of state, the House majority simply refused to schedule her swearing-in. That’s on the official record. The last time Congress blocked a certified member from taking the oath was over a century ago, and it was condemned by both parties as a constitutional failure. Calling that “both sides” is just factually wrong. Only one side controls the calendar.

As a point of order, earlier in this Congress, new members from special elections (e.g., two Florida Republicans and a Virginia Democrat) were sworn in within 24 hours of their election, while the House was not in full session. Just wanna confirm that your alls response as to why this time is justified is the Gov shutdown? Can we just get that one on record?

You say “no one cares about Epstein.” That’s convenient and pathetically incorrect. The issue isn’t the man, it’s whether Congress will release federal files that may implicate powerful people from both parties. That’s transparency, not gossip. Brushing it off only shows how partisanship outweighs curiosity about corruption.

And sure, both parties have their narcissists, but equating systemic obstruction with ordinary dysfunction is a false balance. Trust in Congress has dropped from nearly 70 percent in the 1970s to about 20 percent today. That decline tracks perfectly with the rise of tribal loyalty over constitutional duty.

We all swore an oath once. It wasn’t to a party, and it wasn’t to a personality cult. Watching people on this forum who once understood that retreat behind cynicism and call it realism, it’s hard to decide whether that’s sadder or more dangerous.

If she's kept from the House when the government reopens, I'm with you 100%.

Until then it's just mock outrage. 

The Constitution did not contemplate a government shutdown. 

[bfargin]

Our founders knew and acknowledged “human nature” while our current society tries to ignore and/or dismiss it.

James Madison

“The truth is all men having power, should be mistrusted”

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary”

and John Adams

“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the governance of any other.”

“There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other”

 

[ViperMan]

I'm here for all the firings. The government is bloated and ineffectual anyway. May as well stop paying for it.

It's ugly, but finally someone is holding the line vs the insane out-of-control dem spending that has been unaccountable (literally) for years.

[Sua Sponte]

3 hours ago, ViperMan said:

I'm here for all the firings. The government is bloated and ineffectual anyway. May as well stop paying for it.

It's ugly, but finally someone is holding the line vs the insane out-of-control dem spending that has been unaccountable (literally) for years.

Yeah, that GS-13 salary is really insane compared to the $40B the US just bought in Argentinian Pesos. Why’d we do that again? 

[Banzai]

13 hours ago, Lord Ratner said:

If she's kept from the House when the government reopens, I'm with you 100%.

Until then it's just mock outrage. 

The Constitution did not contemplate a government shutdown. 

The house works during government shutdowns.

[Banzai]

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115398251623299921

Yeah the president of the US posted a video of him as a king dropping feces on American protesters from a fighter jet.

Libs = owned

Edited 10 hours ago by Banzai

[HeloDude]

6 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

Yeah, that GS-13 salary is really insane compared to the $40B the US just bought in Argentinian Pesos. Why’d we do that again? 

I agree with you—both should be cut.

[disgruntledemployee]

8 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

I agree with you—both should be cut.

What if said GS13 salary is an ATC Controller?

[Lord Ratner]

6 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

Yeah, that GS-13 salary is really insane compared to the $40B the US just bought in Argentinian Pesos. Why’d we do that again? 

I'm not at all against buying the Argentinian pesos. 

 

America is going to have to accept that we are not at war with free market enemies. Would it be better or worse for us to have stable allies in our hemisphere? After 30 years of funding the buildup of China, we are now in the unfortunate position of competing with the monster we created. That monster is going to dump money on every country that it can to weaken our sphere of influence. That doesn't mean we give everyone money and bankrupt ourselves like the Soviet Union did, but it does mean we have to be realistic about what it takes to cultivate and retain allies. 

 

Argentina is in the very rare position of having elected a leader on the message of hard choices to fix things. Unsurprisingly, those hard choices are making it hard for him to retain control. No one here should be surprised, Americans have become entitled and lazy as well. But of all the countries in South America to support, and hopefully turn into an example, the one with a historically humongous economy and fiercely pro-american leader is probably the best bet.

 

I wish we could go back in time and divert trillions of dollars in manufacturing build up to the people much closer to us that share a much more similar history and moral philosophy. But we didn't, so now we have to do it the harder way.

[HeloDude]

1 minute ago, disgruntledemployee said:

What if said GS13 salary is an ATC Controller?

I said cut, not eliminated—way too many government employees who are definitely not needed.  As for ATC, I would much rather see it privatized, but until then, they definitely provide a needed service when compared to many of the national park government employees, as one example.

[Sua Sponte]

6 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

I said cut, not eliminated—way too many government employees who are definitely not needed.  As for ATC, I would much rather see it privatized, but until then, they definitely provide a needed service when compared to many of the national park government employees, as one example.

When you cut in this administration, the position is eliminated. How do I know? I was a GS in this administration. I do agree there there are plenty of federal workers positions that are bloated and need to be eliminated, however you cut with a scalpel, not a chainsaw. These idiots are cutting key positions, like the nuclear scientists at NNSA, and then frantically trying to hire them back when they found out they are actually needed. There’s going to be time when those SMEs tell them to fuck off and they don’t come back, taking their decades of knowledge with them.

Edited 6 hours ago by Sua Sponte

[disgruntledemployee]

13 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

I said cut, not eliminated—way too many government employees who are definitely not needed.  As for ATC, I would much rather see it privatized, but until then, they definitely provide a needed service when compared to many of the national park government employees, as one example.

Quibbling.

[HeloDude]

5 minutes ago, disgruntledemployee said:

Quibbling.

Such a strong response.  About as strong as your other posts.

[HeloDude]

14 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

When you cut in this administration, the position is eliminated. How do I know? I was a GS in this administration. I do agree there there are plenty of federal workers positions that are bloated and need to be eliminated, however you cut with a scalpel, not a chainsaw. These idiots are cutting key positions, like the nuclear scientists at NNSA, and then frantically trying to hire them back when they found out they are actually needed. There’s going to be time when those SMEs tell them to fuck off and they don’t come back, taking their decades of knowledge with them.

Well, the left doesn’t seem to want to cut any positions, and rather expand the government, so in the meantime I’ll take just about any cuts.  Are some positions more important to cut than others, of course…but let’s not pretend that the big government types (and yes, that includes those in the GOP) want to cut much of anything.

[disgruntledemployee]

9 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

Such a strong response.  About as strong as your other posts.

What I expect from a quibbler...

I'll ask the mods to create a quibbling emoji for next time.

[Banzai]

10 hours ago, ViperMan said:

I'm here for all the firings. The government is bloated and ineffectual anyway. May as well stop paying for it.

It's ugly, but finally someone is holding the line vs the insane out-of-control dem spending that has been unaccountable (literally) for years.

You know that government spending is up this year, right? Until you address that, it really invalidates your guys’ entire narrative.

Edited 5 hours ago by Banzai

[Sua Sponte]

35 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

Well, the left doesn’t seem to want to cut any positions, and rather expand the government, so in the meantime I’ll take just about any cuts.  Are some positions more important to cut than others, of course…but let’s not pretend that the big government types (and yes, that includes those in the GOP) want to cut much of anything.

So, you’re willing to cut a position and then privatize it (e.g., your ATC example)?

[HeloDude]

18 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

So, you’re willing to cut a position and then privatize it (e.g., your ATC example)?

No…I’m willing to cut some positions, and then privatize even fewer of the ones cut.  ATC is needed, just like airport security, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be government employees.  National Park employees (as an example)…we can cut some of those and also don’t need to privatize the ones we cut.  

 

 

[HeloDude]

52 minutes ago, disgruntledemployee said:

What I expect from a quibbler...

I'll ask the mods to create a quibbling emoji for next time.

Well, I am a mod…and your post (like most your others) are noted.  Good luck with that TDS.

[disgruntledemployee]

Just now, HeloDude said:

Well, I am a mod…and your post (like most your others) are noted.  Good luck with that TDS.

Outstanding!  I formally request a quibbling emoji.

You know, TDS goes both ways, as in one so deranged by Trump love, you can't think rationally or objectively anymore.

As for the topic, what are the benefits of a privatized ATC vs GS employees?  Wouldn't it cost more because now someone is now making profit?  OK, so ban profits.  Now that CEO writes his contract to make $5M.  Does said private company have the same oversight and obligation to the FAA/Congress on accountability?  Would said company have free reign to set fees, charge more for foreign carriers, cut services to some class D muni, etc?  Would that mean no taxpayer funds, thus driving up ticket prices?  Would my taxes go down? (I already know thats a fat No).  How do you charge that Cirrus doing 30 T/Gs for training?  What about the soon to be electrics?  They don't buy gas, so how do they pay to play? Do pilots pay by the landing or the vector?  Would this drive more VFR flying to not talk to ATC/file a flight plan?  Can ATC still give a pilot a ph number to call or is more like a security guard pulling you over for speeding?  Most importantly, what effect will this have on safety.  And this is stuff off the top of my head.

My point is, some things need to be govt, especially items that serve a broad public.  While it doesn't mean it can't work, waiving your hand and saying privatize it doesn't equal lower costs to the tax payers.