Continuing the theme of “Just how do Americans manage to chalk up a lower labor force participation rate than other rich countries?” (see this WSJ chart for how we are next-to-last and falling while others are rising)
AOPA Pilot has an interesting article on a former pilot whom we taxpayers will presumably be supporting for the next 50+ years(?) with free housing, food stamps, and Medicaid:
This case involved a pilot who was criminally charged, among other charges, with transporting co-conspirators in a general aviation aircraft to various destinations in the Caribbean for the purpose of delivering the illegal proceeds of drug sales to be laundered. He defended that he never transported any drugs, nor acted as a pilot in command, nor was aboard an aircraft in any capacity that transported drugs. Nevertheless, after a jury trial, he was convicted of conspiracy to possess, with the intent to distribute, cocaine; conspiracy to import cocaine; and conspiracy to launder money. Based on these convictions, the FAA issued an order revoking his commercial pilot, mechanic, and ground instructor certificates. His appeal to the National Transportation Safety Board was unsuccessful. He then filed suit the United States District Court for the District of Columbia claiming that the lifetime revocation of his certificates was unlawful.
Did it work to fight the system?
The pilot claimed that the lifetime revocation of his certificates violated his rights under the fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, he claimed that the actions of the FAA and NTSB violated his “constitutionally protected interests in traveling (privately in general aviation aircraft) by air,” his “constitutional right to contract so as to earn a sufficient and adequate lawful living,” his “public right of transit through the navigable airspace” pursuant to [the Federal Aviation Act], and his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. None of these challenges prevailed. The FAA moved to dismiss the lawsuit, and the court granted the FAA’s motion, denying all the constitutional challenges.
What about similar cases?
An airman pleaded guilty to the crime of conspiracy to import a controlled substance. The conspiracy involved the use of an aircraft. The FAA issued an order revoking his airman certificate. The governor of Oklahoma sent a letter to the FAA administrator asking that the certificate not be revoked. The governor said the airman was from a family he knew and respected; the airman has been gainfully employed as a pilot for a medical flight service for the past three years; and the airman had no criminal record or public safety violations during the past three years. The governor would be grateful if the lifetime revocation requirement was waived, as allowed in the statute. The FAA administrator refused
[Note that I am not disagreeing with the FAA’s decision, just pointing out that when you combine (a) welfare of unlimited duration conditional on having a low income, and (b) the government prohibiting a U.S. resident from working, the result is that the “punished” person should be able to receive a lifetime of cash-equivalents from fellow citizens.]
Related:
This person could just work in some other field. Does he has kids? In practice, people without generally don’t get much income. It’s worth mentioning the Medicaid issue is not an issue in any countries like Canada, which provide health care to all citizens regardless of income level.
You can be his headhunter, Vince! Just tell employers that your client “was convicted of conspiracy to possess, with the intent to distribute, cocaine; conspiracy to import cocaine; and conspiracy to launder money” and that he has one skill, which is knowing how to fly airplanes, but that it would be illegal for him to use that skill in a U.S.-registered aircraft. Let us know how many job offers you are able to obtain.