The Big Beautiful 2025 US Government Shutdown

[Abbot Mythos]

What I find peculiar about this particular government shutdown is how little coverage it's received in the news media to date. Perhaps my perception of the situation is biased, or flawed, but I don't think so.

In any case, I found this article be be of interest:     Opinion | This key group will end the government shutdown

As per author Robert Reich:

"I don't have a crystal ball, but I have a good idea how this shutdown ends. Trump and Republicans will cave (he won't admit he's caving, of course, but he will cave).

Here's why: Air traffic controllers.

Like other federal workers, the controllers aren't being paid now (they'll get back-pay when the shutdown ends). But unlike most other federal workers, their workloads and stress loads have been soaring."

And so, we shall have to wait and see.

[Abbot Mythos]

And so, we shall have to wait and see.

It's beginning to look like Robert Reich may be right about who will end the government shutdown:

Air traffic staffing shortage hits O'Hare amid government shutdown; delays possible

[Abbot Mythos]

US could dismiss air traffic controllers who fail to work during shutdown, transportation secretary says

Now it's getting interesting.

[Faust]

Honestly I think the ATC workers are probably the one group who could really humiliate this government. All it would take is a couple of days of an all out work stoppage and it locks up the gears of billions while also making the government look very weak.
They are playing with fire.

[Abbot Mythos]

Honestly I think the ATC workers are probably the one group who could really humiliate this government. All it would take is a couple of days of an all out work stoppage and it locks up the gears of billions while also making the government look very weak.
They are playing with fire.

The air traffic controllers have to play this game very carefully, as it's actually illegal for them to go on strike here in 'Merica.

[Faust]

There's lots of professions with that clause though. Our police went on strike with mass sickness, the "blue flu".
ATCs have a bunch of clauses about not going to work impaired.
They should all go out tonight and get hammered.

[Faust]

https://gizmodo.com/sean-duffy-threatens-to-fire-air-traffic-controllers-as-10-call-out-sick-during-shutdown-2000670689

Ten percent out sick today, and the government threatening to fire them. If they actually follow through with it I see that figure rising to 50 and closing down some of the bigger airports as a demonstration.

[Abbot Mythos]

https://gizmodo.com/sean-duffy-threatens-to-fire-air-traffic-controllers-as-10-call-out-sick-during-shutdown-2000670689

Ten percent out sick today, and the government threatening to fire them. If they actually follow through with it I see that figure rising to 50 and closing down some of the bigger airports as a demonstration.

This is not Europe, this is 'Merica. And, right now, 'Merica is under the control of a greedy, openly lawless, brazenly vindictive, extreme right-wing regime. I remember what happened to the American air traffic controllers back in 1981 under an older, greedy, but covertly lawless Republican administration. (One of the great ironies of that historic occurrence is that, under a later Democratic president, Washington National Airport was renamed in honor of Ronald Reagan, the guy who fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers.)

Again, the air traffic controllers have to play this game very carefully. The best lawyers money can buy can not save them in our courts, and I do not believe the Democrats possess anywhere near the political clout to save them, if they're too heavy-handed.

[Faust]

That's true, if they strike they need to do so decisively and completely, force immediate action.
They should force closure of all airports and hold with that until they get guarantes and support