I hope everyone had a wonderful and rewarding Thanksgiving this past week.  Aside from attacking the turkey leftover issue with some new and occasionally successful recipe innovations, I have had a moment or two to ponder what I am thankful for.  The family issues are personal but the job and Union related realities are potent.  If you have any interest at all I'll mention some of them in the last paragraph.

There's not a lot of hard data to report this week as both houses having wrapped it up and recessed.  But as long as I'm in the introspective mood I'll try and address the dominant question I have been asked this last week which goes something like the old Chicago song, "Where do we go from here?"  Alas my crystal ball is on the fritz as it has been all my life but my best guesses would be summed up by ripping off the Boy Scouts motto "Be Prepared".

The immediate temperature of our dilemma has been lowered a few degrees.  While we all, myself included, could use a little breather after the intensity of the last half year or so, the threat of privatization and wholesale manipulation of air traffic is still very real.  A letter from the FAA Administrator promising a one year moratorium on the issue doesn't stop them from researching and strategizing.  We can also expect to see Congressional hearings on the matter that I would presume would be more of an orchestrated show of support for a conclusion than an actual open airing of issues and fair assessment of the question. Nevertheless, NATCA will continue to strive to keep the facts at the forefront and hopefully get the chance for real testimony.

For reasons of slavish ideology and/or greed, air traffic is at the forefront of the White House's management agenda.  Many members have said it makes no sense and they just cannot conceive of how they could really be serious about this knowing the facts of our performance (it ain't broke don't fix it) especially in a post 9-11 world.  The problem here, I believe, is rooted in our current climate of polarization.  From talk radio to the political book wars it seems we are collectively encouraged (or in some cases ordered) to be on one side or the other of political ideology.  Pundits seem to assume that your total agreement is an absolute price of admission to the club, and tend to spend most of their time not in real discussion of the facts or merits of an issue, but in the vitriol of name calling to explain how anyone who thinks differently is an idiot or worse.  If I can take the arrogant position that I am 100% right then therefore you must be 100% wrong. Open minded analysis is then seen at best as a weakness in your lack of commitment to the cause or at worst treasonous. This climate of extremes is alive and well on both sides of the political equation and unfortunately for us, we were unlucky enough to be the poster child victim of the most current rabid ideology.  And that ideology goes something like this ... all privatization is good ... period.  Expanding it a little further, services provided by government inherently bad ... same services provided by private sector ... good ... period.  And then the worst motivator, services now provided by government that some private entity could be making money on .. Very Bad!  The fact that the actual product we provide is the safest and most cost-effective and efficient in the world is unfortunately irrelevant.  Is there room for improvement?  You betcha there is Skippy.  Russ Chew's plans with the new ATO have been embraced by NATCA and this is the appropriate way to reform the largess of the FAA and getting it on track in supporting the operation effectively.

So back to the crappy Chicago song.  Where we go depends mostly on the election results next November.  If there is a change in the White House or change in the control of the Senate/House our dilemma will be greatly eased if not eliminated for awhile.  But if that doesn't happen and assuming there is no shakeup in the Administration (I don't see Andrew Card or Carl Rove going anywhere) I believe the heat will be back full force.  From the removal of our inherently governmental status thru the present, our opponents have been continually caught off guard by our ability to uncover their moves, draw attention to them and garner public and congressional support (most shockingly for them with Republicans).   But nothing makes me believe that ideologically they can let it lie for that might appear as backing down.

Now for the record, I am thankful to be represented by this Union.  I see the current situations with some other Unions or employee representation groups and while things aren't always ideal,  I am darn sure glad we have folks on the job with the recourses and savvy  to fight the fight.  I am thankful we have wisely chosen to break out of the stereotypical Union political stance and actively reach across the aisle for Republican support.  I am thankful to have a small role in the fight for what is right and necessary for the public, our jobs, and the future integrity of the system. And I am thankful that we have quality people like all of you on the job both keeping my  family and  me safe when we travel and also answering the call to activism in these challenging times.  Happy Holidays.  Be prepared.