Can we talk about pork spending?
By ZephyrSun
@ZephyrSun (7381)
United States
August 17, 2009 3:07pm CST
So, I was reading this article on the Pentagon budget that apparently was approved by the House. The article is interesting and talks about a lot of items but, the part that I found odd was this-
"In seeking to overhaul the weapons-buying process, Obama hopes to make good on a campaign promise to change the way Washington does business. But it certainly won't be easy to do; lawmakers protecting jobs at home are certain to put up enormous fights over Obama's efforts to stop production on weapons like the F-22 fighter jet.
Despite objections and veto threats from the White House, a $636 billion Pentagon spending bill was approved by a 400-30 vote in the House late last month. It contains money for a much-criticized new presidential helicopter fleet, cargo jets that the Pentagon says aren't needed and an alternative engine for the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that military leaders say is a waste of money."
So, I have a lot of questions I hope you all can help me answer. First, why does Obama want to stop making F-22's is this something that the military does not use anymore? Next, why does any president need a fleet of helicopters and what exactly does one consider a fleet? Third, if the Petagon does not want cargo jets, why are they in the budget? Finally, I don't know what a F-35 is but if military leaders say this engine is a waste of money, WHY AREN'T WE LISTENING TO THEM?
Here's another part of the article that I found interestingly odd-
"On the subject of the helicopters, Obama told the veterans: "Now, maybe you've heard about this. Among its other capabilities, it would let me cook a meal while under nuclear attack. Now, let me tell you something. If the United States of America is under nuclear attack, the last thing on my mind will be whipping up a snack."
Now, if we were under nuclear attack do you really think that any president is going to be flying around cooking in a helicopter??
So do we then consider all of this stuff "pork spending"?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090817/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_vfw
2 people like this
3 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
17 Aug 09
The F-22 and the F-35 are both 5th. generation stealth fighters capable of supersonic speed. The F-35 is just the latest version as far as I know and is more technologically advanced than the F-22, but they will still be used. They just won't be produced anymore. I've read a few things about the F-35 series, which are Naval aircraft, and they seem to me to be pretty bad a$$ aircraft. The article doesn't say who the military leaders are who object to this series but
Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 along with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. I don't believe this is their first rodeo so I'd want more information before I supported defunding this program.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Aug 09
I don't know a whole lot but I know what I like and I do love the aircraft...especially the Stealths, which you don't even hear until after they've passed by overhead. One of the lasting effects of living so close to Andrews Air Force Base, I guess. 
Cargo jets are necessary for moving a large amount of personnel, supplies and equipment to a distant location fast. They're HUGE and they can fly long distances fast. They can be used to refuel Air Force and Navy fighter jets at sea and to evacuate and relocate resources as needed. They're also worth their weight in gold when it comes to providing humanitarian aide to very large numbers of people in need.
I really don't know how many helicopters are considered a fleet...but we say we have a fleet of trucks and we have two. 
I guess the new helicopters are equipped with a kitchen as a perk but they actually are part of the protocol for evacuating the President during an emergency. Although Air Force One is always on standby at Andrews, should it be necessary to get the President out of Washington more quickly, a helicopter can be on the White House lawn within minutes. I don't know how long they can stay in the air without refueling but they're capable of getting the President...and the First Family...out of harm's way fast and are a secure mode of travel within a foreign country as we saw when he visited England.
Cargo jets are necessary for moving a large amount of personnel, supplies and equipment to a distant location fast. They're HUGE and they can fly long distances fast. They can be used to refuel Air Force and Navy fighter jets at sea and to evacuate and relocate resources as needed. They're also worth their weight in gold when it comes to providing humanitarian aide to very large numbers of people in need.
I really don't know how many helicopters are considered a fleet...but we say we have a fleet of trucks and we have two. I guess the new helicopters are equipped with a kitchen as a perk but they actually are part of the protocol for evacuating the President during an emergency. Although Air Force One is always on standby at Andrews, should it be necessary to get the President out of Washington more quickly, a helicopter can be on the White House lawn within minutes. I don't know how long they can stay in the air without refueling but they're capable of getting the President...and the First Family...out of harm's way fast and are a secure mode of travel within a foreign country as we saw when he visited England.1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Aug 09
Wow, you sure know a lot about the air crafts. Thanks for answering my questions. And, I guess I have a fleet of trucks as well since we have 2 and an SUV LOL
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Aug 09
Thanks for explaining that. I'm not really up on military equipment. I don't really believe we have a choice with funding or not LOL It passed huge in the house. But, since you do seem to know a lot about the military crafts how do you feel about the cargo jets? And, do you know how many helicopters are considered a fleet? Oh, and sorry, lastly, do you think that the president needs a helicopter with a kitchen? I didn't think helicopters were used for long flights.
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Well it's not all pork, we do need some of these items, it's a matter of who you listen to as far as if we need it or not, he doesn't want the helicopers, they want him to get them anyway? Go figure, the power of the Senate! Until they give the president a line item veto power we will get this. But he'll never get this because then it'll turn in to another political disaster! So we are stuck with what we have, it won't change soon! 
tdemex
tdemex1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Maybe we should allow the president to have line item veto only with budgets LOL Most of it seems like maybe there are possibly some contractors that are going to greatly benefit from this spending spree that the people getting the items don't really want.
1 person likes this
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Well the people that live in State where the GOOD senator lives will benefit with the wages that are going down by getting the jobs! The right thinkers agenda is right on track! As soon as Obama is ruined, they can lower wages and take away all benefits because people will work for anything, just to survive! Roll back the minimum wage and let the rich get richer! Return us to third world status! The power of GREED is going to return so we can get back to business as usual! tdemex sees the writing on the wall!
tdemex sees the writing on the wall!1 person likes this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Look who is in office, nobama thinks that all the money is the world is his to spend how he chooses, he basically won the lottery by getting elected because he can tax the crap out of people who work hard, he thinks they are working for him. We need a strong military to combat the people who hate our freedoms and capitalistic way of life. Despite what the left says, the people who generate wealth in this country also give people jobs. How is the government going to drain the working class if they are unemployed? I bet biden and the boys didn't think of that. The rich don't have to put up with this junk and they can take their money and go someplace else, if you get bad service someplace over and over aren't you going to stop going there and spending your money. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out but it sure takes a bunch of snakelike lawyers to make it suck for the rest of us.
