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The air traffic control world just got a little shakier, and it seems like some lofty ideals about diversity are causing turbulence that might not be acceptable for those flying at 30,000 feet. It all seems to trace back to the benevolent—though confusing—intentions of our beloved bureaucracy. The FAA, which should be better known for ensuring our safety, has reportedly been caught in a storm of its own making. Rumor has it they’ve been prioritizing diversity hires over—wait for it—actual competence, and that’s led to more than a few raised eyebrows and flight delays.
Enter our favorite figure under scrutiny: Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the man with more press conferences than air traffic controllers on duty. Under his leadership, the FAA seems to have swapped out the really important questions—like, “Can you land a plane?”—for ones like, “What’s your favorite social justice cause?” Sure, it’s nice to have a panel that reflects the diversity of the nation, but let’s not pretend that a job where lives hang in the balance shouldn’t also come with a hefty dose of skill. Seriously, asking about dance skills doesn’t exactly scream “pilot material.”
Despite the lofty goals set for representation, the practical implications of prioritizing diversity over competence are sticking out like a plane with a malfunctioning wing. This whole situation gets even weirder when we consider the lawsuit against the FAA. Apparently, they were allegedly discriminating against applicants based on race—though not in the way one might expect. Instead of hiring the most competent controllers, they added questions that rewarded poor performance on tests if the test-taker was part of a minority group. So, if you were scoring low on math, congratulations! You get brownie points because, hey, who doesn’t like to sprinkle a little extra chaos on top of an already crowded control tower?
Meanwhile, people who had aced the regular tests were tossed aside because the FAA felt their application pool simply wasn’t diverse enough. It’s ironic, isn’t it? In an attempt to fix representation, they effectively derailed the careers of thousands who were perfectly qualified. One could almost say it’s a plot twist worthy of a sitcom skit—except, oh right, this isn’t a comedy. When air traffic controllers are in short supply, it’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a recipe for disaster. The reliance on these various “points systems” to elevate those who often struggled in traditional metrics doesn’t exactly give us confidence during takeoff.
What’s more baffling is how this situation mirrors many others across the country. Companies need to hire based on merit; that seems like a simple enough concept. Yet in the world of government and even some private sectors, it feels like the scales have tipped too far the other way. It’s like trying to fly an airplane with one wing. And as we all