Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

gfarber

(191 posts)
48. air traffic controllers
Mon Nov 10, 2025, 01:33 PM
Nov 10


A President typed in a fury,
Declaring his loyalist jury.
Controllers, he warned,
If absent or scorned,
Would be “replaced” in a Patriot hurry.

He promised ten grand on the spot,
To “Patriots” who’d never forgot
That shutdowns are fake,
A “hoax” they should shake—
If they’d work without pay (quite a lot!).

At airports from Boston to Phoenix,
Fatigue spread like budgetary Kleenex.
Short-staffed and unpaid,
The system decayed—
Yet tweets kept supplying the remix.

Said Duffy: “They’re hungry, you see—
They’re feeding their kids, not the T-R-A-C.”
But logic and need
Could not supersede
A Truth Social tirade at three.

Said Daniels, “We’re flying the planes,
While juggling mortgages, bills, and refrains.
We’re not just some pawn
To tweet anger upon—
We’re humans with stress in our veins.”

So while Donald typed, fiery and grand,
About patriots saving the land,
The towers stood tall,
Though weary of all—
Still guiding each flight to its stand.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I have family members who will be flying from Oregon to JFK over the Xmas holidays. I worry for their safety. QueerDuck Nov 8 #1
I have a family member traveling tomorrow hamsterjill Nov 8 #6
I know what you mean. It's infuriating. QueerDuck Nov 8 #13
I have a flight at Christmas too Tree Lady Nov 8 #16
Take the train? cbabe Nov 8 #17
cross country? barbtries Nov 8 #21
I was replying to treelady traveling OR to Bay area. cbabe Nov 8 #23
my bad barbtries Nov 8 #37
Kids on trains are great for wriggling. And I spy. 'Did you see a bear?' cbabe Nov 8 #42
The train is over on east side from Tree Lady Nov 8 #46
you can add worry that their flights will be canceled barbtries Nov 8 #20
They might actually... 2naSalit Nov 8 #2
my prediction: ret5hd Nov 8 #3
Bingo! Wuddles440 Nov 8 #4
Maybe a penny tax on each ticket for a company like the USPS that pays and trains the controllers. LiberalArkie Nov 8 #5
But if you contract that out, who is gonna pay them? BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #7
Maybe it would work like the Medicare Advantage scam Auggie Nov 8 #10
"Maybe it would work like the Medicare Advantage scam.. Government still pays but it's private companies that profit" BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #12
There are already private air traffic control towers at smaller airports - have been for years, Ocelot II Nov 8 #15
Oh sure BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #26
Oh, of course! Full-scale privatization would be a disaster. Ocelot II Nov 8 #39
MAGA will get their tech bros to use AI somehow to automate it IronLionZion Nov 8 #30
NTSB will be VERY busy if that happened BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #33
See, MAGA is creating jobs IronLionZion Nov 8 #34
Don't let Muskrat and DOGEshit see that though! BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #35
There was plenty of money for $50k ICE bonuses and a ballroom bucolic_frolic Nov 8 #8
"Somebody's priorities are all out of whack." BumRushDaShow Nov 8 #9
yes, and we know who they are. barbtries Nov 8 #22
It's straight forward StoolPigeon Nov 8 #11
Reagan fired them, Trump is making them quit. Just another lame sequel. Reagan was a better actor. nt thesquanderer Nov 8 #14
Union Busting by Former Union President 2na fisherman Nov 8 #24
Is this shutdown part of their plan to declare Martial law? KS Toronado Nov 8 #18
The shutdown will continue until republicans figure out Turbineguy Nov 8 #19
Stop all flights ... OldBoss Nov 8 #25
Stop all flights in and out of DCA, DUL and BWI! Ocelot II Nov 8 #41
Resignations or retirements? Aviation Pro Nov 8 #27
Is America great enough yet? IronLionZion Nov 8 #28
I have a flight on the 23rd Historic NY Nov 8 #29
Who benefits and how from damaging the US air traffic control system? Irish_Dem Nov 8 #31
Doesn't one of the TechBro's have an AI system for air traffic control? NoMoreRepugs Nov 8 #32
I have a flight BACK home on the 16th. Pacifist Patriot Nov 8 #36
This has got to be hurting Dipshit Donnie's rich pals. Dr. T Nov 8 #38
I can't blame them Warpy Nov 8 #40
I have said this many times and will continue to say this as a former aviation mechanic/technician........... turbinetree Nov 8 #43
One thing the working man has, any working man, republianmushroom Nov 8 #44
We need a robust train system. Just saying, peeps. Joinfortmill Nov 8 #45
Blame it on Republican "leadership" n/t AntiFascist Nov 8 #47
air traffic controllers gfarber Nov 10 #48
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Air Traffic Controllers S...»Reply #48