7 ms·
It is just inconceivable that we have a multi-decade program to develop a new fighter to fill all these roles, and what we've produced is either equivalent to o
by gnoway 12y ago
It is just inconceivable that we have a multi-decade program to develop a new fighter to fill all these roles, and what we've produced is either equivalent to or worse than the incumbent in all cases, is not safe to fly in combat situations, and is more expensive to boot. I mean we've seen this sort of thing happen on a smaller scale before, but versions of this plane are supposed to replace, like, everything in multiple mission classes across multiple services. Again, just inconceivable.
This article didn't present anything that we haven't seen before, though, and the excerpts from the unnamed pilot set off the 'totally out of context' alarms in my head when reading them. Maybe it's because I'm not involved with fighter planes in any capacity; for example, I found myself thinking that maybe the pilot is not supposed to actually be looking behind them in this plane vs. using video on their HUD or something, and that explains why the helmet and seat are not optimized for head movement.
- lisper 12y ago> It is just inconceivable... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk
- GoodIntentions 12y ago> just inconceivable. Unless the primary goal was to transfer tax dollars from the unwashed to the privileged.
- zaroth 12y agoDon't be silly, the "unwashed" don't pay taxes. E.g. the bottom 50% pay 2.9% of total income taxes collected. Edit: Heck, according to the IRS, in 2013 the bottom 20% paid -1.6% (negative 1.6%) of total income tax collected! I assume that's because of the EITC.
- tim333 12y agoThe bottom 50% pay a bunch of other taxes. Payroll taxes, sales taxes, taxes on booze, cigarettes, property etc.
- zaroth 12y agoBottom 40% - All Federal Tax - 2013 - 5.6% of tax revenue. Bottom 60% - 16.5% [1] A good rule of thumb is all state & local taxes paid generally work out to about 1/5th of your mortgage/rent cost. But that's also not funding the F-35. (neither are payroll taxes) [1] - http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?DocID=3506 http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?DocID...
- Symmetry 12y agoState taxes are systematically less progressive than federal taxes so despite that rule of thumb you can't assume that relationship holds across income levels.
- zaroth 12y agoExactly so. If they were progressive, then a fixed percentage rule would not hold. Being less progressive (more likely a fixed percentage), the rule of thumb is generally more accurate, wouldn't you agree?
- Shalomm 12y agoJust a friendly reminder why governments and large corporations can't develop shit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXQ2lO3ieBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXQ2lO3ieBA
- venomsnake 12y agoTotally agree with you http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11
- Shalomm 12y agoNice rebuttal. The Apollo program was also delivered on time (JFK's "before this decade is out" deadline). I'd also add the Manhattan Project to this list. I wonder: why can the government execute Apollo and Manhattan projects, but botches such simple projects as the Bradley APC carrier?
- venomsnake 12y agoIn both cases it was do or die. Right now is do or ... meh.
- Retra 12y agoI wouldn't be wholly surprised if the entire point of the F35 is to make money off of it. Either by selling it to foreign countries, or by exploiting the large influx of tax money. If that was your goal, it is win-win, no matter if the project fails. And that's where I'd peg the fundamental problem.
- fnordfnordfnord 12y agoIn a way, maybe. Defense contractors have figured out that they need to distribute facilities into numerous congressional districts.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
- bilbo0s 12y ago"...just inconceivable that we have a multi-decade program to develop a new fighter to fill all these roles, and what we've produced is either equivalent to or worse than the incumbent in all cases, is not safe to fly in combat situations, and is more expensive to boot..." My first week at PLC in Quantico another candidate, prior enlisted recon guy, told me... "War is a racket". Later I found out that the quote was attributed to USMC Maj Gen Smedley Butler. Even read the book. It's kind of amazing how little things have changed at heart since he committed his thoughts to paper.
- panic 12y agoYou can find the text of "War Is A Racket" here: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1 http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1