Happy sequestration day!!!

[GRG55]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

...The more things change, the more things stay the same. The politicians, department heads and bureaucrats will always cut front-line services to the public first. Why is anybody surprised?

US orders 149 airport towers shut due to budget cuts

(AFP) – 40 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the shutdown of air-traffic control towers at 149 small airports due to budget constraints after the implementation of the "sequester" spending cuts.

Another 40 towers that were facing closure will remain open, either because shutting them "would have a negative impact on the national interest," or because they enjoy separate budgeting support, the FAA said.

"We heard from communities across the country about the importance of their towers and these were very tough decisions," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

"Unfortunately we are faced with a series of difficult choices that we have to make to reach the required cuts under sequestration."..."and we couldn't bring ourselves to sacrifice the cookies in the cafeteria"...

[The plane in the photo is a 1935 Beechcraft Model 17R Staggerwing carrying Beechcraft Serial Number 38. The ultimate Art Deco airplane...and imo the ultimate Beechcraft]

[shiny!]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

Went to the post office yesterday and was stunned by the sight of weeds everywhere. This is a major branch office in ritzy Scottsdale, one of the busiest in the Phoenix metro valley. I've been going there for ten years; the place was always nicely landscaped. Yesterday there were 4 ft tall weeds lining the drive to the mail drop bins, all around the parking lot and up against the building. It looks like they haven't weeded in months.

[lektrode]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

Went to the post office yesterday and was stunned by the sight of weeds everywhere. This is a major branch office in ritzy Scottsdale, one of the busiest in the Phoenix metro valley. I've been going there for ten years; the place was always nicely landscaped. Yesterday there were 4 ft tall weeds lining the drive to the mail drop bins, all around the parking lot and up against the building. It looks like they haven't weeded in months.

eye know what exactly yer typing about - see it all the time - have got used to it, after 20something years...
suggest y'all do same - get used to it, or like... ya know - maybe get mad about it - that would be nice, actually - that somebody - with some clout - would....

our parents likely saw better - much better - i know mine did...

so much for the so-called 'improvements' in living standards the plotical class is so fond of telling us about (specially in the month leading up to their re-elections, as they lay out the porkfest) - wonder how just much more they'll spend on vote buying, for just another 1% margin of 'victory' - altho wont take much more and a whole bunch of us will say its just not worth it anymore.

[GRG55]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

Went to the post office yesterday and was stunned by the sight of weeds everywhere. This is a major branch office in ritzy Scottsdale, one of the busiest in the Phoenix metro valley. I've been going there for ten years; the place was always nicely landscaped. Yesterday there were 4 ft tall weeds lining the drive to the mail drop bins, all around the parking lot and up against the building. It looks like they haven't weeded in months.

Sort of feels 3rd worldish doesn't it?

My first visit to Washington D.C. was in late May 2003. I had a bit of free time at the end of the trip and being an aviator I decided a visit to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to see the original Wright Flyer in that centenary year of their remarkable achievement was in order. I walked down from my hotel and when I got to the The Mall I could not believe the shockingly deplorable state of the lawns and flower beds in the stretch from 14th SW to the Capital. It looked like "the most powerful nation on earth" couldn't rub two nickels together to tend to their own capital city...

[shiny!]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

Sort of feels 3rd worldish doesn't it?

My first visit to Washington D.C. was in late May 2003. I had a bit of free time at the end of the trip and being an aviator I decided a visit to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to see the original Wright Flyer in that centenary year of their remarkable achievement was in order. I walked down from my hotel and when I got to the The Mall I could not believe the shockingly deplorable state of the lawns and flower beds in the stretch from 14th SW to the Capital. It looked like "the most powerful nation on earth" couldn't rub two nickels together to tend to their own capital city...

3rd world indeed. Or like New Mexico. But that's being redundant.

It looked eerie, like a harbinger of times to come, and I felt about it the way you did when you saw the shabby state of DC. I guess the US capital started showing the truth of our times 10 years ago. Now it's coming here. I wonder if all Federal buildings are going to start looking like the P.O.

If this had been NM I wouldn't have noticed the difference, but I've grown accustomed to Arizona having landscaped, well-tended streets. As municipal funds dry up we'll probably see more places showing neglect like the P.O. It'll start with the easy-to-cut services like landscaping. Then it'll be potholes. Maybe people stuck with the big SUVs will be the only ones who'll be able to drive in a few years...

[flintlock]

Re: Happy sequestration day!!!

It's always been this way.

Cuts to education or health care? Fire teachers and nurses, and give the administrators a raise for their skillful handling of draconian budget reductions.

Cuts to municipal operating budgets? Close the libraries, turf the firemen and police, cut the amount of street sweeping/snow removal and watch the underpaid Aldermen vote themselves a raise.

Cuts to public broadcasting? Eliminate the most popular programs and keep the expense accounts intact.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. The politicians, department heads and bureaucrats will always cut front-line services to the public first. Why is anybody surprised?

X2. This is nothing new. People forget so quickly.