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I'd assume it's because building a newly designed aircraft is much more profitable to defense contractors and the politicians they own.

If I am not mistaken B-52s are scheduled to fly till 2050. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

What was it you said? Oh yeah...I remember... But before I get slammed... I want you folks to understand something I do requests...

Narrator: This is false.

It is about time we have someone in there that actually sees this and has the gumption to do something. We've been the world's piggy bank for WAY too long.

At times it feels like the US is chained to China’s radiator & getting beaten regularly & for years. We’ve had numerous ‘adult’ negotiations, but we’re still in economic shackles.

The Boeing 737 was a Boeing error. This is already been established. Boeing screwed up big time. Regarding the B-52, yes they aren’t building anymore. Maybe they should because past attempts to replace with garbage like the B1 Bomber have been failures. The B-52 is a rare case of “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (or try to replace it). All that money wasted to replace could have been rerouted towards making more and making than even better.

Contrary to whatever you may think, no one is trying to piss you off. You do a fine enough of pissing yourself off. Example: you focus on the piss itself as opposed the manner by which it is actually useful. It just proves my statement about those who only want to find the negative in things they fear. Yes, I said it. Fear.

You'd think I'd have a greater interest in aircraft; my father is a retired mechanical/aerospace engineer for the Department of the Navy / Jet Propulsion Lab. Last engine project he worked on was the F35's engines.

The 737 Max issue was human error in terms of making optional a safety feature that should have been standard. I'm sure the B-52s have seen a lot of updates.... but like I mentioned, they're not building new ones. One of the things that Trump scrapped was the replacement for the KC Tankers. It was going to cost some ungodly amount to replace them with a new design when the current ones work perfectly fine and the AF likes them. Why not build new ones of the same design then?

How well are those updates working for them right (referring to the 737s)? Maybe not the best example lol. The B-52s have seen numerous updates over the years because they are simply indispensable tools that continue to prove their worth. On a side note, my dad was an instructor on the B-52s back in the 60s. He knew every part of that plane down to the last rivet. His speciality with them was electrical.

Hornet on the left. Super Hornet on the right. Obviously with new electronics, radars and stuff.

I think it is a bit early to recycle the Abrams fleet while our opponents increasing substantially their armored forces. Abrams proved that it is far from obsolete and we still might (and I think most definitely) will require it in the future. It is much easier to maintain and upgrade than to build something from scratch, especially if you need something like a tank in a big hurry.

One could argue that... and be wrong. I work in the energy sector. While there is some foreign ownership of power generation, most of it is US or Canadian. The distribution of energy is also US run, if anything with too much domestic government interference, but that is the fallout of the Enron scandal

Ask yourselves this: how did infrastructure do under balanced budget Clinton? Everything glass smooth & crack free? Of course not! And your answer as to why is simple: Gov’t was involved. The ‘answer’ is NOT what percentage of the budget goes where. Again; big picture. People talk about the fiscal future of federal healthcare but you never hear a whisper about Medicare fraud running 100 billion annually in fraud. I’ve paid attention to some local infrastructure projects, the costs are always astronomical. Why? Again it’s simple; the people approving these projects are Gov’t pencil pushers who do not care how much of your money gets spent. In fact, many of them wear huge project price tags as a BADGE OF HONOR. How do you get local, state & fed spending & budgets under control? Fire everyone & start over. Take the last budgets approved & cut them by 2% on every renewal. Strike down the entire system that encourages municipalities to spend every dime they have to avoid a budget cut next year & instead incentivize cost cutting/ savings measures. Theres a ton of incremental, healing methods that would strength future fiscal health, but almost no one is willing to enact them because the atmosphere is so toxified.

While our defense budget is definitely out of the control, this is not entirely correct. The 2019 Federal budget is 4.746 trillion, while Department of Defense budget is 576 billion. https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-federal-budget-breakdown-3305789 This is US military spending vs GDP, it seems we are spending now not much more than during Clinton era

Just a thought... Put in a 2.7T tuned to 410~420 hp and 380~420 lb-ft and they can call it the Regal GNX.

Listen here blu. Why do YOU have to interject your BS troll posts into EVERY EV thread? Your posts are pure fear mongering in nature whether you want to admit it or not. When compared to gas powered engines, EVs are most certainly progress. The progress is a reduction in our dependence in Middle East oil and an investment in better EV tech is a step in that direction. How you don’t see that is beyond any sense of logic. And of course there are some down sides but at least they are being addressed and sure as $h! at a faster rate than gasoline powered engines ever were. We’ve relied on the same old tech, while being beholden to the same dirty rules and dirty players (see the Middle East again) for more than a century now. Where is the progress in that?No one has denied the challenges that lay ahead for EVs. The difference is though is that negative has been acknowledged whereas you fail to acknowledge any positives from EVs, and they are there whether you want to admit it or now. Again, if you hate the facts, then maybe you should just stop commenting on the subject altogether and quit with the condescending remarks and insults while you’re at it. All that does is prove this fear. And BS to your “century of trying” remark as well. The tech simply was not ready or viable 100 years ago and it was hamstrung by incompetent companies (see the GM 1990s EV debacle as a prime example) and competing industries that sought to prevent its implementation (see the oil industry). Now though, every manufacturer is finally on board and real progress IS being made. Your attempt to paint this such a broad brush is laughably pathetic and ignorant to the facts, facts you continually refuse to acknowledge. Next time you want to call someone “skeeter”, you need to look in the damn mirror junior. Shhhhh @dfelt. Facts are hard for some folks. They might lash out at you for committing such heresy.

Who's up for a therapeutic 'roast' thread??

I think if you guys haven’t seen Ocn is just rattling your cages, I’m not honestly sure what to tell you. On my other car sites, when someone says something not well liked, they just get ignored....and either it stops or they get blocked. Oh, I remember those old internet days, epic car battles and trolling-I could always imagine folks darn near typing their keyboards in anger..(kinda like facebook now. ? ) Myself I am a pretty calm and open minded guy- but their are times when an epic troll is needed.... ?

Don't change the wording and intent of someone's post like that ocn.

There is a lot more wrong with it... Boeing execs knew about certain problems... https://www.plant.ca/general/boeing-made-mistake-in-handling-max-737-warning-system-problem-ceo-184448/ Im am vindicated...since some members in here did not want to believe me when the 2nd crash happened... and there maybe more to come...as investigations about Boeing's cover-up are on-going...

It seems pilots that actually fly it have a different opinion. https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/f-35-faces-most-critical-test-180971734/

Indeed I saw that. That's a very robust airframe considering no replacements are being built.

I've thought the same thing about the airforce fleet. Why can't we build new A-10s and B-52 with upgraded electronics and engines? Copy/Paste the airframe design and then build the modern stuff in. It's gotta be easier to design a specific use engine for a new B-52 than design a whole new bomber. And the B-52s are still proving their value today... they can be sky based "Aircraft Carriers" for a bunch of drones and never get within weapons range distance of their targets.

Again, not disagreeing there. At least Bill saw the need for it and got some increases to it done.

American owned. God forbid Gov’t run!! Trying is good but Implementation is the only measure by which we move forward.

Funny you should bring up Bill. While he had his flaws, he actually helped spearhead increased spending on infrastructure, all while dealing with a GOP majority congress. “Roads and bridges, airports and seaports, highways and canals are all critical parts of a country’s infrastructure. Without them, goods and services cannot move efficiently, raising costs for consumers and dramatically limiting the potential for growth. The Clinton administration recognized this and sought to increase investments in these areas. In 1992 federal spending on transportation infrastructure totaled $40.9 billion, in inflation-adjusted 2000 dollars. By the year 2000, the last year of President Clinton’s term, that total was up 15 percent to nearly $47 billion.” Source: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2011/10/28/10405/power-of-progressive-economics-the-clinton-years/

Just for the record, I'm not saying it doesn't need to be cut back. I was just stating it isn't easy to just flip a switch and have all of those people out of jobs(I know it wouldn't be a 100% job cut).

And I’m guessing posts like these two have no bearing on the ability to have a political discussion? What’s that they say about glass houses?

Golden showers seem to be popular for some!

I actually agree with this sentiment entirely. China is also not spending crap tons of money on war, like we have in Iraq and Afghanistan, and soon to be Iran.

Cool Developments in Bio-Batteries: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190604094251.htm Organic, fast charging and no toxic rare earth metals. Then we have this:https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/130380-future-batteries-coming-soon-charge-in-seconds-last-months-and-power-over-the-air The list of Battery tech that is in testing is amazing: Sand Batteries that give 3 times more battery life WiFi energy charging Energy Harvesting of wearable devices Gold Nanowire Batteries Solid State Lithium-ion Grabat Graphene Batteries Lazer-made Micro Supercapacitors Foam Batteries Foldable Battery U-Beam over air charging StoreDot 30 second Charges Transparent Solar Chargers Aluminium Air Battery Urine Battery Sound Charging Ryden Dual Carbon Battery Sodium-ion battery Hydrogen fuel cell charger Batteries with built in fire extinguishers Liquid Flow batteries Carbon-ion batteries Zinc-air batteries Smart Clothing Stretchable Batteries Samsung Graphene battery

China’s protectionism is not the only reason why China has been successful of the trade front. Having the largest labor force in the world is a much bigger factor. Protectionism has proven to be a failure in this country is all I know and the 1930s prove that. China manages to get away with the policy because of many other factors. Remove even half of that labor force and it’s protectionism practices would simply self destruct, just like ours did in the 30s. There are other factors to this but the labor force size was the first to come to my mind. One positive thing we should take from China is reinvesting in ourselves, like fixing and upgrading our infrastructure. I fear, however, that infrastructure week has passed us by for now.

What you called “anti-Trump” posts, sensible folks call “pointing out facts”.

If taxes (which a tariff is on imported, non-jurisdictional commerce) "cost" American jobs, why not reduce ALL U.S .taxes across the board by a tangible amount? Make unemployment 0% and pull more workers in from those who dropped out of looking for work (some 60 million). So protectionism simply does not work for China? How the hell else has that country risen so far so fast? These 'blinders-on' "comprehensive analysis's" seemingly always fail to look at the broader picture, and commonly invoke singular examples especially suited to support a POV (the steel industry- one whose health began to be chipped away at by China (chiefly) DECADES before 2002. 'Didn't save the industry' = too little too late).

I left your anti-Warren stuff up too.

Swell lookin' joint [Fort Dodge, Iowa] ~

You...have NEVER remained balanced and fair... But...Its OK...we have common ground as I too, dont want a political forum opened up... Why? Because YOU have proven even with EVs....that YOU REFUSE to have ANY discussion. One small example. I once mentioned that I see 5 different Tesla Model 3s daily... YOU immediately scoffed at that. I proceeded to explain to you why in Quebec Tesla has no problem in selling cars and I proceeded to explain to you why EVs, not just Tesla cars, will be a major force in Quebec in the very near future. YOU...then...just short of calling me a liar...dont believe me. YOU will NOT listen to me whatever I say.... I not here to change your mind... But at the same time...YOU ONLY have YOUR ways off thinking and WILL NEVER budge on ANYTHING... While YOU EXPECT EVERYBODY ELSE to cater to YOUR whims... THIS post is PROOF positive of what Im talking about... YOU dont treat ANYBODY equally that opposes YOUR view... What uphill battle? A discussion? A discussion that PROVES your logic is flawed? YOU dont believe me that Quebec is a strong EV market... I even TELL you why... I, on the other hand...UNDERSTAND why in YOUR area EVs may NEVER take-off... But YOU will NEVER be able to SEE what is in MY NECK OF THE WOODS and YOU REFUSE to ACCEPT what I tell you... YOU FLAT OUT TREAT ME LIKE A BULLSHYTER!!! SO... STOP THE CRYING!!!

@ocnblu So then this is fake news to you. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/trump-campaign-cutting-ties-pollsters-after-internal-numbers-leaked-n1017991 Yet incompetence in leading our country and trade has led other countries to now impose tariffs on us. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/16/trade-war-india-hits-u-s-more-tariffs/1471140001/ Apple Exports hit with 70% Tariff and now exports will die off on top of many other things we export out of the country. Get ready for Depression 2 coming and this is truly all Trump.

Fantastic. I hope this gets to production cars sooner than later. Or should I say: ocnblu now has his worst nightmare come true.

...To *get* it done.

There is an Idea, inform them that their job will change from one of maintenance and refurbishment to one of Recycling with an end date knowing the Tank, production and maintenance will come to an end. Giving the business a chance to change its business model, have the employees recycle the tanks and bring that era to a close and hopefully the business is able to figure out another form of business such as lite attack vehicles. Or they could become a major recycling company for old outdated military gear.

Trillion dollar deficits are certainly not doing us any favors. And yes, there are rational conservatives. Had dinner at a great Italian place with my friend Andy last night...he is an NRA instructor and a very politically conservative guy. But he deals in facts and reality... Tax increases and cuts to the military and various programs. We have sold the country out with huge deficits for 60 years, time to pay the piper. The military still needs serious cuts though. Stopping foreign aid is the first step to making ourselves whole.

LOL after all the anti-Trump posts in random (not even a whiff of "political" anywhere else) threads are left up on the boards after being reported? Riiiiight...

I’d like to add the sale of over $100,000,000 worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, a “deal” orchestrated by the master negotiator and the same country committing atrocities in Yemen who pretends to be our “ally” but really isn’t (reference 9/11 and the recent murder of a Wash Po journalist as examples of this allied farce). Guess we will always have North Korea though right? Oh wait.

Some people just seem to go out of their way to prove why politics can’t be discussed in any reasonable manner. Sad.

Maybe you could have chosen another past victor other than Obama... Quite honestly, most of these awards are just for the elite to give kudos to themselves...but you targeting Obama, shows how divisive you wanna be with your country and countrymen... YOU would be part of the problem... If you and others like yourself will NOT change... Washington DC will eventually burn and Trump's future successor dont matter if Blue or Red, will be playing the fiddle...