Air carrier Captain reported concerns with the Air Traffic Control system; citing a decline in reliable ATC services and increased risks associated with ATC mistakes. Captain also described a previous event where a controller cleared them to land on very short final approach to SFO although an air carrier was on the runway awaiting takeoff clearance.

Narrative

I just wanted to get on here and send in a general report with my Opinion. I have some great concerns about our ATC system as of late. It is my opinion it needs a 'pause' and investigated and great changes made; possibly an overhaul. I am a Boeing 737 Captain for Air Carrier X. I have been flying Commercially since [the year] XXXX. I started with Air Carrier Y in XXXY flying the Embraer 145 regional jet. I was based in many cities with Air Carrier Y. I flew into DCA airport quite a bit and did a lot of approaches to RW01 with a circle to RW33. The DCA accident really upset me; as I know it has upset a lot of people. I have great concern about where our ATC system has been in the past 5 or 7 years. I feel like I can attest that I have seen a decline in reliable ATC services; when I compare with my flight experiences with other airlines and companies. I don't remember having regular issues or scenarios I questioned. I have had quite a few experiences where it has been scary and uncalled for. I do not want this message to be interpreted as; I am not appreciative of ATC's hard work; nor am I here to 'bash' them or discredit their important job. They have an important job; a hard job; and possibly the most Stressful job in the World. I am here to share the Opinion of a professional airline captain. I want to encourage the Federal government to investigate the FAA ATC system as a whole. An example I would like to share is; back several years ago; I was Captain on an Air Carrier X flight on approach to RW28L in San Francisco (SFO). After leaving approach control frequency and checking in with SFO tower; we were cleared to land on RW28L. It was a midnight arrival; it was very dark. As we got closer to the runway I saw a single white flashing strobe and thought it looked like a very odd approach light I had never seen before. I asked my First Officer if he saw this white strobe. My FO said yeah. I asked; is that a plane? My FO responded I don't know; maybe I can't tell. I asked the FO if he would call tower a second time and confirm we are still cleared to land. The tower responded back with only; affirmative. A few seconds later we hear Tower control clear a B737 for takeoff from RW28L. I grew very upset with the position ATC put 'us' in; as well as 180 passengers onboard. I executed a go-around at 150 Ft Radar Altimeter (AGL). The runway was black. The B737 was 'line up and wait' and so their landing lights were OFF; so no lights to provide a silhouette to outline the plane. And their Red Beacon atop the aircraft was blocked by it's Vertical Stabilizer. The only thing we saw was an odd looking White Strobe. Because it was a 737-MAX; the MAX's strobes are Left and Right of the APU Tailcone. If we were tired or not sharp that night; or on our game; there is a great chance two passenger 737's could have collided on the runway. We gave SFO Tower an opportunity to rethink this scenario as we asked SFO Tower a second time if we are cleared to land. This should've been 'a nod' that this wasn't going to work; and resulting in Tower instructing us to go around. But this didn't happen. In the past 5 or more years; I have seen more and more close calls; and questionable decisions; and eyebrow raising; hair raising; concerning scenarios. The risks have been greater in the past 5 or so years; when I compare to flight experiences prior to many years ago. I think back to my flying in the East coast; Northeast; and Midwest; in busy airspace; I don't remember being concerned so often. I don't remember ATC making mistakes often; at least that I was witnessing. But the past few years something is happening more and more in general; increasing risks. I hope my report is well received. And I hope that the FAA investigates themselves as a whole and interviews their own people. I hope the FAA as a whole makes some significant system changes to improve the ATC system. Something or somethings within the ATC are amiss. Thank you for reading my long note.It is just one example of some near-misses the aviation system has been experiencing. Thank you.