I see all of your points, Richie, but the 'walk a mile in my shoes' justification sometimes doesn't cut it. If someone peddles their assets on the street or drug deals or something dire like that because they can't get a good job for <insert various reasons here> and get arrested, they can't say that they're doing it because their children are going to school hungry and complaining about the next time they'll have some milk and Corn Flakes! They're still going to get arrested and thrown in jail, because they did the wrong thing, and they can't reasonably justify it.
I'd much rather prefer to be called that weak stick if I choose not to sacrifice quality over quantity. Yes, you are spread thin. I totally understand that, and we know who to place the blame for that. I'd also love to help out, but unfortunately, I turned 31 this year, so I couldn't. What matters more? getting the aircrafts to their destinations safely, or getting more to those destinations? I know there are pros and cons to both, but I'd much rather get there in one piece than run the risk of being packed together. The numbers may look good, but the numbers of lives mean much more to everyone.
You are right, but wrong.. there are 3 sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. Will we ever know the truth? I do not know. Do we have the right to know the truth? yes. will we ever get the truth? once again, I do not know. Should harassment ever occur? no. right now, this is a her word against theirs. From what I gathered from the article, she filed the complaint with the DOT, then the harassment started. This leads me to think that it started after she witnessed the deal. I don't know what the IG does, because it isn't as if the public or any enthusiasts like us get invited to something like that (btw, is Operation Raincheck still going on?)..
Believe me, I do appreciate what you guys are doing, and truly wish I could be one of you. But I do wonder if too much of the impossible has been asked of you with demand for more planes to be in the air with as little as you are behind the scopes. Perhaps a re-org or modification to the rules to allow more people to become controllers? (hint hint)
BL.