Feds Voice Concern About Funding Dulles Rail

Read above. The dude said it would increase taxes AND tolls. Where's the evidence for that, I ask again?

 

So, they don't claim it is going to be a miracle worker. However, it is clear that is a step in the right direction, and they point that out. At least, they are honest, so why criticize them for being fair? Please...

Well, we could easily find $4B by taking care of Americans at home rather than spending it occupying the Middle East. Why are you opposed to Ashburn and Loudoun getting some of our hard-earned tax money back in our area?

Aren't those people already driving somewhere? Every butt in a Metro seat takes a butt out of a car driving to DC. How can you argue that it doesn't help traffic?

 

Except you forgot about the part that air traffic is increasing steadily....
Oh, and your taxes won't go down because Bush is sending all the money to Iraq.

 

I'm playing Gryphon here. They are obviously facts since I said so and I don't have to answer to it or justify it to anyone.
What was the reason you were gone for several months? Oh yeah...volunteering.

 

Why does anyone try reasoning with Gryphon the great volunteer?!

 

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2008/jan/25/concerns-about-moorefield-station-arise-because-ra/

 

Would you rather fly without air traffic controllers? When I am in the air, I hope that I have the best pilot, crew and controllers that money can buy!

 

I haven't yet read through this whole thread, but I want to point out, as someone who lived in the city of Boston during the Big Dig that Boston politics are some of the slimiest around. I think they went that far over budget because they COULD. Now... by no means am I defending the contractor... a great deal of the blame should fall on them. But in the few years that I've lived here, I don't think the politics in this neck of the woods is ANYTHING like it is up there, so maybe this is naive of me, but I don't think the contractor -- whoever it was -- would get away with half of the crud they got away with up there.

 

Are you KIDDING ME? Do you think that maybe, just maybe, there are other effects of having fewer qualified, quality folks sitting up in all those ATC towers?

 

Right now they're hiring on Craig's List!!!

 

It's a job that we could program a computer to do better than having an error-prone human do. Look at how many near misses we have had this year. We need to radically rethink how the air traffic control system works in this country and AUTOMATE!

 

I just hope that I never end up on a flight with Gryphon when Cliff is on the clock.

 

Actually, I am wishing for the HAL 9000.

 

Ah, the ignorance you exhibit about something you know absolutely nothing about!!! Enlighten us with your insight!!!!
Did you think maybe it's because controllers are working mandatory six day weeks and on some occasions more than 10 hours in a day (which is in violation of the law.) Why? Because there isn't enough of them. Why? For the reasons I've stated previously. As I said, things can remain the same...the flying public will pay the consequences.

Also don't forget that the crash in Lexington, KY that killed over 50 people may have been avoided if the FAA followed its own policy of requiring two air traffic controllers on duty. There was only one. Why? Staffing. I guarantee you that the government will pay tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits due to this. It might all have been avoided if another $50,000 air traffic controller was on duty. How's that for a good use of your precious government tax dollars?

When I started in 1986 they thought ATC could be automated in 10 years. Over twenty years later they aren't even close.
Are you aware that planes today can fly with no pilots?
I ask all of you out there.......how many would get on a plane without a human on the flight deck?
I rest my case!

By the way folks, I have always been a strong supporter of the Metro extension to Ashburn. I was just messing with Gryphon.
Thought I'd give him a dose of his own tactics....make ludicrous statements based on nothing that cannot be supported and watch the reaction.

Gryphon, I think, just has issues with me. He can't truly be as ignorant as most of his posts.

Lastly, Gryphon, I do not support your idea of raising HOA fees so a volunteer position would become a paid one. Once again, you love spending tax (HOA) dollars needlessly....

 

I offer some advice. You are free to ignore it, but I am sincere in passing this along to you... If you aware of the law being broken, you should report it. If not, you are part of the problem (and possible may be in violation yourself), not the solution. If it has been reported and there's a violation of the law, surely someone has been prosecuted? Or are you alleging that the current adminsitration would break the law without facing the consequences?

While thinking about this, you should investigate a qui tam suit. Whistle-blowing is a honorable way to bring governmental wrongs into the public eye.

I smell something fishy. Why didn't the one on duty call the media, the FBI, the CIA, or anyone else to let someone know beforehand that the current adminsitration was breaking the law? It sounds like he is as guilty as anyone else, and that makes me question if throwing more money at people like that controller will solve our air traffic problems.

I guess I should be honored that the President of the HOA feels the need to "mess with" a simple peon resident like me.

Despite your "messing with" me, I sincerely want you to know that I would be more than happy to offer my assistance with the qui tam matter if you decide to explore it. If there is government wrong-doing with the air traffic control system and you have inside knowledge about it, as have spelled out in your post, the American public has a right to know before some horrible tragedy occurs!

vacliff, in the underlined statement above, you are stating that HOA dues are taxes. Only the government is authorized to tax. Therefore, your statement, as the President and Resident Member of the HOA, is an acknolwedgement that the Broadlands HOA is a government agency, with all of the rights and responsibilities that attach, correct?

 

I do think of HOA's as the "fourth level of government", behind Federal, State, and County.
HOA's require you to pay assessments (in my mind the same thing as a tax).
The three higher levels of government require the HOA's to pay for things that I believe THEY have the obligation to provide.
The higher levels require certain things to be a part of the HOA and then require the HOA's to pay for them. Things like roads, walkways, streetlights, path lights, playgrounds, recreation facilities, trash collection etc.

So in my mind, HOA fees are like a tax. They are not the same thing as a tax.