Republicans—and, unfortunately, too many Democrats—love them some privatization. From schools to prisons to parking meters, the horror stories are hurting services, cutting jobs, and failing to deliver the cost savings the privatizers always promise. Now, as a new Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization comes up at the end of March, congressional Republicans have the air traffic control system in their crosshairs. Seriously, the system that keeps you safe when you fly. The largest and safest system of its kind in the world.
At issue—besides your general privatization fever—is the Federal Aviation Administration being slow to deliver NextGen, a satellite-based air traffic control system to replace the existing radar system. It’s true! The FAA has been slow. But could this have something to do with it?
First, in 2011, the authorization for FAA programs lapsed for two weeks due to a fight over the Essential Air Service program. [...] In the end, Congress would enact 23 short-term extensions before finally passing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
Second, in 2013, the budget deal known as the sequester—which forced automatic spending cuts to programs that receive money from the general fund of the U.S. Treasury—disrupted aviation manufacturing, construction, aircraft registry and certification, and some aspects of safety oversight.
It’s a classic Republican strategy to break the government and then advocate for cutting or privatizing said government because it’s broken, so no surprises there. And what about the funding for this big new NextGen system? According to Kevin DeGood at the Center for American Progress:
Privatization represents a bold attempt by the aviation industry to carve out operations and procurement activities along with most or all of AATF funding, while dumping responsibility for remaining FAA functions onto taxpayers. [...] In short, privatization would provide the aviation industry with the operational control it wants while also offloading a major funding responsibility.
Surprised? Don’t be. The airlines, which would substantially control the new Air Navigation Service Provider, don’t intend to pay for this. They intend for us to pay for it even though they’ll control it and reap the benefits. DeGood also points to difficulties in having NextGen run separately from other current FAA functions, because “splitting off NextGen from the bulk of facilities and equipment planning and procurement—as some proponents of privatization would like to see—increases the possibility that the two will become out of step, causing technological conflict or reducing the efficacy of the investment.”
Oh, but privatization has worked well in other countries, its proponents tell us. About that. A petition from Daily Kos and a coalition of advocacy groups including the Courage Campaign, Progressive Democrats of America, and others got more than 115,000 signatures, and they’re planning to keep up the pressure on this issue. According to that coalition:
Advocates for privatization claim to be following the examples of the UK and Canada—but since the UK privatized its air traffic system, 12 percent of jobs were cut AND the new fees and existing taxes on every ticket increased by 140%. In Canada, 14 percent of jobs were cut and the total new fees and taxes increased by 53%. In fact, many privatization initiatives increase costs to consumers, while simultaneously laying off workers without cause. This is not a way to grow our economy or generate broadly shared prosperity.
As CAP’s DeGood points out, though Congress would theoretically retain oversight, other privatized transportation systems suggest that decision-making authority would likely shift dramatically to the airline industry. DeGood isn’t even categorically opposed to privatization, but the scope of the questions he raises show how far it is from the simple promises of modernization and increased efficiency with no downsides whatsoever we’re hearing from the privatizers.
And really, you only have to look at private prisons or Chicago’s parking meters or so many other recent examples of how privatization puts people and services last, even when it’s supposed to be simple and straightforward and cost-cutting without pain.