Dean Betz #🟦Jan 12, 2023

Memo to @nationalreview:

1. The NOTAM system is separate from air traffic control.
2. The NOTAM system is *already* privatized. It's run by Leidos.
3. A significant portion of air traffic control is not run by the FAA. I talk to non-FAA flight controllers from the airplane every week.

Suggestion: Learn about a topic before shitposting about it.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/01/the-u-s-should-privatize-air-traffic-control/

The U.S. Should Privatize Air-Traffic Control

Failures like today’s system meltdown argue for removing government from the aspects of air travel that could be better handled by the private sector.

National Review
Show threadRicardusJan 12, 2023
@Deanbetz The real thing we need to be talking about are the attacks on infrastructure we've been seeing lately (electrical grid substations) by (likely American) terrorists, and whether or not this was more of that. And even if it wasn't, what parts of the ATC infrastructure are they likely to attack in the future to sow chaos.
Show threadPeat Bog
@Ricardus @Deanbetz
Good point. Currently the political right roll their eyes at the "T" word but as a nation we have to recognize the existence of antidemocratic groups. Most members of these groups are useful idiots suckered by a libertarian ideology: government is the oppressor. But the ultra-wealthy Koch network funding this horseshit aren't idiots.
Jan 15, 2023 at 3:38pmWeb
Show threadPeat BogJan 15, 2023

@Ricardus @Deanbetz
I've never seen an example of a libertarian paradise. The places where the ideology took over tend to be shitholes, e.g. Sealand which now pimps fake Lord and Lady titles and Gorham NH, now run by bears:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230103031316/https://newrepublic.com/article/159662/libertarian-walks-into-bear-book-review-free-town-project

The Town That Went Feral

When a group of libertarians set about scrapping their local government, chaos descended. And then the bears moved in.

The New Republic
Show threadRicardusJan 15, 2023
@peatbog You don't need to convince me! Libertarianism is more a cult than anything else.
Show threadRicardusJan 15, 2023
@peatbog They're out and out fascists. FULL STOP.
Show threadPeat BogJan 15, 2023

@Ricardus
I'm with you, comrade. Unfortunately I don't have a de-nazification army up my sleeve. I have to fight using ideological subversion.

I need language and arguments capable of reaching Joe Smallbiz and his Republican buddies. "Fascism" is a problem with that crowd.