In Conversation with Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Transportation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2017
- A wide-ranging discussion of administration priorities for roads, bridges, and other complexities that challenge the nation’s infrastructure.
Recorded at the 2017 Aspen Ideas Festival on Thursday, June 29, 2017.
Featuring Elaine L. Chao, US secretary of transportation. Moderated by Joanne Lipman, senior vice president and chief content officer of Gannett and editor in chief of USA Today and the USA Today Network.
Regarding Chao's comment on private involvement in Merchant Marine transportation. Full disclosure is that her father is a shipping magnate who owns a merchant marine transportation company called Fumao Group.
How can one person have 36 honorary degrees?
URCHIN SAM She probably bought them.
Bought With taxpayers money, or made huge contributions with taxpayers money.
@@time2stick2getherthomas69 bought yes, taxes payers money, no. Her father was a rich and powerful man.
$$$$$$.... duh....
There are aspects of this interview that I like and some that I do not like.
1) At 12:31, the Secretary of Transportation is asked if she disagrees with her husband, (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell), about health care. If the goal was to get her personal opinion, she did not give it; it sounded more like she just gave talking points (see #2 below). But I think this question was unnecessary and cut into time talking about her current job, which is why I watched this video.
2) As part of Secretary Chao's response to the health care question, she talked about what she called an "Affordable Health Care Plan" (this is at 13:07). She states "My husband and I both are covered by the Affordable Health Care Plan". First, I don't really know what she's referring to when she says, THE "Affordable Health Care Plan", because there is no such thing. There are affordable health care plans, but she and her husband have coverage under the Affordable Care Act. One of the mandates of the ACA is that members of Congress and their staffs and families are required to have coverage via the either the Federal or Washington, D.C. health care exchanges. As a secondary aspect of this, the members of Congress can claim "small business exemptions" for them and their staffs, so they receive pretty good subsidies to offset their health care costs. So when Secretary Chao says that her "prescription prices more than quadruple" and her insurance rates greatly increase, I think it's fairly ironic that she says something needs to be done about health care when she and her husband now receive health care coverage close to average Americans and her husband is, well, the Senate Majority Leader.
Now before anyone jumps all over the above comment, please know that what I've written is a matter of public record and can be easily researched for authentication. Also, I am aware that Congressional and Cabinet-level health care is more intricate and complex than stated, especially in the situation of Secretary Chao and Senator McConnell. However, again, this is what is available publicly and if someone has contradictory information, it would be good to discuss it (especially if it is more accurate than what I've stated).
3) Modernizing the Air Traffic Control network. Looking to the private sector for input and ideas is actually quite a good and reasonable idea. Establishment of a non-FAA, non-profit and NGO, as has been suggested by the President and supported by Secretary Chao, to fill the role of air traffic control(lers), could be a way to do it. However, having a centralized body (the FAA) to ensure uniformity or regulations, standardization of practices and training is a very good thing. I don't think a NGO would have that level of authority to make decisions without needing the backing of the U.S. government, tacitly violating the very definition of non-governmental organization.
4) GPS v. current system (VORTACs, ILSs, etc.). The current system of landings and approaches uses step-down approaches and step-up departures more because of airspace limitations (i.e., object clearance, geography, population centers) than because of the equipment limitations. Secretary Chao is absolutely correct, radar does definitely have its limitations, and going to a completely GPS-centric air traffic architecture would add greater fidelity to the system, but a lot of the FAA's rules and regulations are in place for safety and caution. Reducing distance between aircraft could possibly be obtained from GPS systems and guidance, but there is still a question of safety.
Wow, this response went way longer than I anticipated. Bottom line: I disagree with several things Secretary Chao said, but I also agree with her that improvements can be made. I'm just not sure if we agree with how to achieve those improvements.
I'm just wondering, are you a pilot? Who follows air traffic policies?
Elaine You are a wonderful woman and leader too!
That's a matter of opinion.
Isabella Liu Would you still make that statement, today?
I think she's full of it.
Our modern mother Theresa.....