Robert Poole, Author at Reason.com

The U.S. Capitol Building on the left, an airplane flying on the right | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

America's Longest Government Shutdown Shows Why We Must Free Air Traffic Control from Politics

Nations that moved air traffic control out of politics have better tech, no shutdown chaos, and stable funding. Congress keeps choosing dysfunction instead.

Robert Poole | 11.5.2025 3:55 PM

Travel

Europe's Highest Bridge Was Built Without Government Subsidies

France's Millau Viaduct is an engineering marvel funded by tolls.

Robert Poole | 8.21.2025 6:00 AM

Three jet airplanes | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

FAA

The 3 FAA Failures Creating a Dangerous Mess in the Skies

Outages, staffing shortages, and outdated tech are crippling air traffic control and putting the public at risk. It's time to take the job away from the FAA.

Robert Poole | 5.21.2025 10:45 AM

Reason Foundation cofounders Tibor Machan, Manny Klausner, and Bob Poole | Reason

Obituaries

Remembering Manny Klausner

Bob Poole recalls his Reason Foundation co-founder, a brilliant bon vivant.

Robert Poole | 3.18.2025 5:14 PM

Chase Oliver, Donald Trump, and Kamala Harris | Illustration: Lex Villena; adapted from Katy Kildee, The Detroit News/TNS, Jeff M. Brown/ZUMAPRESS, Robin Rayne/ZUMAPRESS/Annabelle Gordon/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom, Jlmcanally | Dreamstime.com

Ross Ulbricht

How Are Reason Staffers Voting in 2024?

A survey of electoral hopes and regrets.

Katherine Mangu-Ward, César Báez, Ronald Bailey, Billy Binion, Eric Boehm, Christian Britschgi, Elizabeth Nolan Brown, C.J. Ciaramella, Emma Camp, Bekah Congdon, Natalie Dowzicky, Nick Gillespie, Fiona Harrigan, Joe Lancaster, Robert Poole, Jason Russell, Robby Soave, Peter Suderman, Jacob Sullum, J.D. Tuccille, Jesse Walker, Zach Weissmueller, Matt Welch, Liz Wolfe, and Justin Zuckerman | 10.17.2024 11:11 AM

A plane in the air shortly after taking off. | imageBROKER/Mario Kuhnke/Newscom

Federal Aviation Administration

How Political Meddling in New York and New Jersey Causes Airline Delays in the Entire U.S.

Congestion and slowdowns in the airspace around New York City account for up to 75 percent of all airline delays, yet efforts to depoliticize its management remain stalled.

Robert Poole | 8.23.2024 11:59 AM

The Capitol building with a chart in the background showing how much it costs to build tunneled rail projects in other countries compared to the U.S. | Illustration: Lex Villena; Edmac1717

Environmental Law

It's Time To Reform Environmental Litigation

Thanks to the lengthy approval process and special interests surrounding environmental review, it takes far longer to build anything in the United States than in other developed countries.

Robert Poole | 6.26.2024 6:00 AM

Suburban family home | Photo 10785446 © Ligonography | Dreamstime.com

Affordable Housing

A Brief History of Single-Family Zoning

California recently enacted legislation that invalidates single-family zoning, as an effort to increase housing supply. Other alternatives would be wiser.

Robert Poole | 6.10.2023 7:00 AM

Airlines

What the Southwest Meltdown Means for Airline Policy

Re-regulating the airline industry won’t help prevent massive service disruptions in the future.

Robert Poole | 12.30.2022 1:20 PM

Space

Robert Heinlein's Dream of Private Space Travel Is Coming True

A new generation of companies has made space travel affordable.

Robert Poole | 11.15.2022 8:00 AM

dreamstime_xxl_71528573 | Photo <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-close-up-hispanic-female-driver-drinking-coffee-car-image71528573">71528573</a> © <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/monkeybusinessimages_info" itemprop="author">Monkey Business Images</a> - <a href="https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/drinking-coffee-car.html">Dreamstime.com</a>

Transportation Policy

Why Can't You Buy a Starbucks on the Interstate?

In 1960, Congress forbid service plazas on the new Interstate highways. It’s time for that to change.

Robert Poole | 4.9.2021 5:38 PM

Election 2020

How Will Reason Staffers Vote in 2020?

A survey of presidential preferences and regrets

Mike Alissi, Peter Bagge, Eric Boehm, Christian Britschgi, Elizabeth Nolan Brown, C.J. Ciaramella, Shikha Dalmia, Zuri Davis, Brian Doherty, Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Justin Monticello, John Osterhoudt, Robert Poole, Mike Riggs, Scott Shackford, Stephanie Slade, Robby Soave, Jacob Sullum, Peter Suderman, Jesse Walker, Zach Weissmueller, Matt Welch, and Liz Wolfe | 10.12.2020 1:30 PM

Large image on homepages | Wang Ying Xinhua News Agency/Newscom

Transportation Policy

Air Safety Is Important. We Shouldn't Let Politics Put It at Risk

It's time to remove this vital function from the government budget.

Robert Poole | 1.24.2019 3:25 PM

Large image for longform feature pages. | Joanna Andreasson

Freedom

Debate: For Political Change, Choose Exit Not Voice

Should we try to make the existing system better-or should we try to launch a new one?

Max Borders and Robert Poole | 9.30.2018 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | thomas-bethge/iStock

Smart Growth

Stop Trying to Get Workers Out of Their Cars

"Smart growth" is dumb about commuting.

Robert Poole | 6.18.2018 6:00 AM

Large image for longform feature pages. | CSA-Printstock/iStock

Airlines

If You Can Afford a Plane Ticket, Thank Deregulation

Forty years after the Civil Aeronautics Board was abolished, look how far we've come.

Robert Poole | 5.26.2018 6:00 AM

Large image for longform feature pages. | Zoe Fisher

Donald Trump

Trump Turns One

A year into Donald Trump's presidency, how are things going?

Peter Suderman, Robert Poole, David Bier, Walter Olson, Gene Healy, Patrick Ruffini, Matt Welch, Jesse Walker, William Ruger, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Veronique de Rugy | 1.18.2018 9:30 AM

Air Traffic Control

Who Benefits from the Status Quo?

Several key groups benefit from the current tax-funded, government-run air traffic control system.

Robert Poole | 10.1.2017 12:00 PM

Air Traffic Control

Your Flight Is Delayed

The frenzied battle to reform American air traffic control

Robert Poole | 9.26.2017 9:10 AM

Air Traffic Control

Will Congress Fix Air Traffic Control at Long Last?

After almost 50 years, Reason's fight for air traffic control reform might finally pay off

Robert Poole | 9.26.2017 9:10 AM

Large image on homepages | NATS-UK Air Traffic Control/Foter.com

FAA

Time to Get U.S. Air Traffic Control Out of the 1960s

Dozens of countries have modernized successfully.

Robert Poole | 6.6.2017 2:00 AM

Reason

RIP Tibor Machan

Remembering a reason editor and co-founder of the Reason Foundation

Manuel Klausner and Robert Poole | 6.1.2016 12:00 PM

Reason

Bob Poole Remembers Tibor Machan, A Fellow Founding Co-Editor of Reason Magazine

Machan was one of the libertarian community's most prolific writers and thinkers.

Robert Poole | 3.25.2016 3:00 PM

Airlines

How to Convert the FAA's Air Traffic Control Into a Non-Profit

The Reason Foundation's director of transportation policy testified before Congress.

Robert Poole | 2.14.2016 10:00 AM

Policy

Who's Going to Pay for New Highways?

Our Interstates are wearing out. Here's what we need to do to fix them.

Robert Poole | 1.6.2015 10:00 AM

Politics

Conservatives Should Embrace Obama's Plan For Tolls to Rebuild Interstate Highways

The president's plan would actually give states more control, tap the private sector's capital, and move the country closer to the Tea Party's user-pays principles.

Robert Poole | 7.16.2014 3:00 PM

Policy

45 Years, 45 Days: Is This Any Way to Run an Airport?

Robert Poole | 7.24.2013 11:20 AM

Policy

Is This Any Way to Run an Airway?

Aviation disasters make headlines. The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't. This indictment cites case after case to prove FAA responsibility for major crashes. With airline deregulation leading to a surge in air traffic, replacement of the FAA is imperative, and this article shows how it can be done.

Robert Poole | 7.24.2013 11:15 AM