Reader Comments

Editor: Congratulations on “Air Controllers Strike Again”! As a retired Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) with over 40 years of government service, I must attest to the fact that present day controllers are highly overpaid and already work only 5 1/2 hours a day. While the services they perform are vital to the integrity and safety of the National Airspace System, controllers have elevated themselves to the status of "prima donnas". They believe that they hold the only trump card as their union (NATCA) president tries to buffalo the current FAA Administrator, Marion Blakey, who is trying to bring some degree of reasonableness to escalating wages beyond budgetary capacities. They are attempting to cripple the system, with many of their inept controllers hiding behind the union, resulting in a loss of efficiency and control. It's about time that leadership at the national level takes control of this out-of-control organization which sees itself as "untouchable". Overtime in the FAA controller ranks are totally out of control. In the past, acceptance of new systems was predicated upon guaranteeing controllers backfill overtime to train on new systems, whether or not overtime was required. The past FAA Administrator was in bed with union leadership (figuratively speaking--I think) at the national level, and bought into whatever the union wanted. Ms. Blakey should be commended for trying to bring past sins under some level of control by implementing reforms that will help resolve the mistakes of her predecessor. Tom, a retired controller

Editor: In regard to your editorial, "Air Controllers Strike Again,” I work (as a contractor supporting the FAA) "on the inside" and can assure you that you ARE RIGHT ON!!!!! This situation is the most extreme (other than IRS) example of Government run amuck I have yet encountered (and I've seen a few). If taxpayers really knew the nitty-gritty of the "use" of their hard earned tax dollars, they would be hopping mad. Bring on Privatization. At least we can fire/replace the "privates" if they cannot perform and the competition (if the lawyers are kept out of it) will reduce the "real cost" back to something realistic. Way to go!!! Obviously, prefer to remain, Unnamed (at this time; maybe later).

Editor: I'm glad ConservativeBattleline is on the story of the air traffic controllers (“Air Controllers Strike Again”). With the passage of time, Ronald Reagan's decision on the ATC strike is more and more recognized as a watershed event, affecting even the strategic calculations of the Soviet Union in dealings with him. I would hate to see President Bush miss the lesson and toss that legacy away. Joseph A. Morris, Morris and De La Rossa, Chicago and former general counsel to the Office of Personnel Management during the air controller strike.

Editor: Excellent article on “Air Controllers Strike Again.” As a former controller in the USAF this is a completely ridiculous situation. Bottom line, they make too much money and are trying to extort more from the taxpayer. Bush should do what he has to do--call their bluff and if they strike fire them all. Ralph Short, Garden City SC

Editor: Regarding your editorial on the air controllers, you are correct. They need to be privatized and that is what they need to be told. John Wright, Bloomington, Illinois

Editor: I appreciated your words on former President Reagan's actions on the air controllers strike. Obviously, our present Republican Congress and Senate couldn't even open the door for someone like Reagan now. They are simply RINO's in full dress up camouflage. Canada, on the other hand, is not good premise on which to develop privatization to fix "this mess we are in"! It is a big mess too, has very great problems with safety, and often does not work--just like everything else under Canadian socialism. Sincerely yours, Gary Iverson, Nampa, Idaho

Editor: The Air Traffic Control System is an anachronism. Good riddance. If the air traffic controllers do go on strike, then it should force a complete re-examination of the ATC System. The current system made some sense 50 years ago, when hardly any aircraft had their own navigation or collision avoidance systems installed, and when automation was virtually non-existent. As a pilot, it seems to me that the ATC-Systems in place today are as useless as the bloated administrative-management bureaucracies that weighed down American corporations until the 1980's. Air Traffic Control is needed, but the present system is not appropriate or necessary. Brian Lynch

Editor: Regarding Congressman Mike Pence’s article on “Big Government Republicans,” I'd like to see him in the White House! Cheryl L. Spence

Editor: WOW—Rep. Mike Pence has articulated the truth so well - but how many Pences will it take to get back on course? Art Harding, Plano, TX

Editor: I am often asked for a donation to support the election of Republican Congressman and Senators and must admit that lately I have resisted that request particularly when supporting Senators is concerned. I am so happy to see a Congressman like Mike Pence speak like an American. Too many of his peers posture -- making empty statements in deep sonorous voices assuming that we voters are too stupid to see through it. We are not stupid. Congressman Pence's statement is brilliant. If I was in Washington now I would be standing at the steps of the Hill and be handing copies out to his peers with the prayer that most of them might have the intelligence and morality to GET IT. Joseph Kotaski, Fairfield Glade, TN

Editor: From Michael Fumento’s article on “Toxic Media Myths,” it sounds like Mr. McDaniel of the Louisiana environmental department needs to get the venerable New York Times to do a front page expose' revealing the story about a cabal of extremists attempting to create panic among the public. Perhaps they could uncover plans to extort millions of federal dollars from government agencies so these environmental extremists can continue to fund their organizations and their patently political ambitions to create a socialist state in the USA. On a serious note, it is obvious it will take someone in the media who still has a sense of journalistic integrity left to do the story for the good of the people of Louisiana. I just would not hold my breath if I were him. The odds of any mainstream media type actually bellying up to the bar of integrity, are relatively slim. Perhaps, nil! So, the public that gives a damn will have to rely on information from sources such as ConservativeBattleline. Those willing to listen to something other than the "lets get Bush" crowd, may stand a chance of learning the truth. The others, either they simply do not care about the truth, or would not know it if it hit them. Excellent article. Thank you. Steve Ralston

Editor: Steve Lillienthal’s “College Illiteracy” should not be a surprise for anyone who owns or manages a business. The ability of students to analyze newspaper stories, comprehend documents and balance a checkbook was assessed recently and over half the graduates of four-year colleges and three-quarters of the graduates of junior and community colleges could not be categorized as possessing these "proficient" skills. Why? Simple. Children are not being educated in our Elementary and High Schools. I came up with a 4 point plan to solve the problem. I have presented the plan to multitudes of educators including teachers, principals, superintendents and retired educators. At least 99.9% have agreed that the plan is what is needed. 1. Teachers must be allowed to discipline unruly children without fear of being sued or beat up by irate parents. 2. Tenure laws must be such that bad teachers can be easily removed while protecting the good ones. 3. Computers must be removed from the first five grades in school. 4. Students must have a solid foundation in reading, writing, including spelling correctly, and how to reason things out. I am afraid we are past the point of no return in education because a person cannot teach something they don't know and sadly those who were taught properly and have the ability are fast retiring. I am not in education nor did I finish High School but many have told me over the years they thought I had at least a Junior College education. The reason is that I was taught the proper things many years ago. M. Red

Editor: “College Illiteracy” by Stephen M. Lillienthal, is right. This "processed thinking" starts in high school, or before. Give a high school "graduate" clerk a ten dollar bill and a nickel for a $2.55 bill and see if you obtain the correct change. Ask a youngster "why" they have that opinion, and try to determine their logic. For that matter, try the same on adults. Our present day politics is rife with lack of rational, intelligent, comprehensive thinking. Now we give children computers in kindergarten, so they can immerse themselves in countless reflex games, and the subject them to compulsive entertainment, sans analysis, sans comprehension, sans evaluation, --ad infinitum. And, the products teach the next generation. May God help our nation. Richard F. Borsos