Lines, Lines, and Damn Lines
Their Dysfunction, Your Time, Money, Happiness...
We’re dealing with a lot of lines in America, today.
At airports around the country, the ongoing DHS shutdown has led to mass call outs by TSA officers, none of whom have been paid since February. Per Reuters, nearly 500 agents have already left the agency. This is on top of the 1,100 who called it quits during last year’s government closure.
Airports in March and April are busy places. Spring Break for most schools stretches from Arbor Day until after Easter. Families, many of whom may be taking their only vacation of the year, are spending their days waiting, and waiting, and waiting. The queues add more stress to already-anxiety filled trips for folks who don’t fly that much.
The Administration claimed to help ease the lines by sending ICE agents to airports, but they seemed to be leaning a lot more than checking IDs, running bags, or performing other screening activities. Given ICE’s reputation, and their habit of wielding AR-15s, their presence isn’t unwinding an already-tense situation.
Lines for Thee But Not For Me
Because Congress can’t get its collective head of its rear, Members have taken advantage of their status and their lapel pins to skip lines and avoid screening. Just this week, Delta announced it would no longer process the politicians’ at their own special desk.
Given the decades-long status of Congress being less popular than many well-known social diseases, one might believe they’d learned to suffer with the folks who both elect them and whose taxes cover their paychecks and golf-plated healthcare.
Pshaw!
Asked for comment, one imaginary Member was heard to say, “Our problem made it your problem, but don’t make your problems our problems.”
Blurred Lines
While they’re waiting in line, travelers may spend their time watching the red and green lines of the world’s financial markets climb and fall based on tweets, Trump’s changing tune on whether or not he’s talking to Iran, and how many more petroleum facilities are aflame in the Middle East.
If you’re waiting on line, the jittery lines on your phone represent years, perhaps decades of work, putting pennies away year after year to enjoy your small (shrinking) slice of the American Dream and something that resembles a comfortable retirement.
For the Uber driver who dropped you at the airport, those lines represent remind them they’re taking home less from their hours in the car day after day, week after week. Even if a barrel of oil drops below $100, gasoline prices have climbed a dollar per gallon over the last month.
In our already conspiracy-obsessed society, the fact that someone made a boatload of money on oil futures. According to the Financial Times, “Traders on Monday placed bets worth about $580 million in the oil market approximately 15 minutes before President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post about Iran talks that sent crude prices tumbling…”
Who knew what, when did they know it, and who told them? How many more scams are we expected to endure? Farmers, ranchers, truckers, and railroads are coping with diesel fuel climbing past $5/gallon as schmucks at Bloomberg Terminals giggle about their bonuses.
As the cost of their inputs increase, anyone waiting in line at the grocery store, butcher or TJ Maxx is going to find higher prices at the register.
Trump Support Dec-lining
President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating hit 36% this week. Americans’ opinion of his handling of the economy is even worse, though. Only 29% of respondents, the last of the hardcore MAGA holdouts, approve of his economic performance.
Sitting in his gilded, half-demolished palace, the president can carry on about the unfairness of it all, but his allies up Pennsylvania Avenue will pay the price of the bedlam he’s helped unleash on the world and the United States. Democrats are +31 (31!) with independent voters right now. That is blue tsunami territory come November.
End of the Line
The Iran War is a month old and shows no signs of ending. Layoffs are increasing and recent job numbers are being revised downward. The more Americans find themselves in the unemployment line, the more Members of Congress, legislatures, and other state offices will find themselves looking for work come November.
Wait. Food lines will soon make this look like a breezy walk.
Thank you Reed. Always look forward to your articles. Those lines! How most of us hate lines, particularly at an airport. Now it is horrendous. Hope other airlines do what Delta did. Our elected representatives need to stand in line with us in more ways than just at airports--but darn, I'll start with them standing in our line at the airport. Another worry about flying? The need for good, rested air traffic controllers. They aren't treated well at all. At present no rest for the weary. Thanks for keeping us on point. Take care.