Is grounding the Blue Angeles serious?

1. 60

   tirelesstravelerposted 10 years ago

   Is grounding the Blue Angeles serious?
   
   The Blue Angeles have been grounded.  They won't be at Fleet Week in San Francisco,Ca. 
   The practices and the actual show during Fleet Week draw several million people to San Francisco and the Bay Area to see the magnificence of precision flying.  That is sad, but...
   could this be more serious.  What is the actual purpose of the pilots that fly those Navy planes?
   Could this grounding be a national defense disaster?  These planes are the first line of defense patrolling dangers over the polar cap.  North Korea ?

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2. 75

   Attikosposted 10 years ago

   The Blue Angels are great flyers who put on a great show. That is what they do, though. It's PR and entertainment, at most of indirect value to warmaking. The navy is a military institution, it reports it would have cost forty million in 2013 to keep the Angels going, and that's a lot of money even if it does pale to a speck in gross federal spending. It's nice to have spectacles like that when we're rich and spendthrift. Americans are no longer rich, however, and we're getting thinner by the month as the economy sickens and taxes rise to punitive levels. I wish things were better, but it's time to cut the fat. The Blue Angels are essentially that. Let them go.

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      xstaticposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      True, and the same goes for the other air show performers like the Air Force Thunderbirds, also grounded for logical reasons.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Attikos and xstatic, I agree with you both. Yet, both groups of pilots have done tremendous services to the US over time and inspired MANY to become military pilots. I thank them for daringly serving our country and I respect their contributions!

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3. 56

   Alberic Oposted 10 years ago

   The Blue Angels is just for show- to demonstrate the Naval air power and precision. Cutting it will not be a national defense disaster.
   
   We have the Naval Fleet, Marines forward deployed around the world on ship. We have Army, Marines, Navy and USAF bases in Japan, Okinawa, Guam, along with Army and USAF bases in Europe. The Navy, USAF and Marines have fixed winged attack aircraft- bombers and fighters. Not to mention 28,000 US Soldiers in Korea. Plus, we have NORAD and several air warning systems throughout the US and Canada.
   
   The US will be ok as long as these assets are used correctly.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed!! However, their shows WERE breathtakingly beautiful! I will miss them greatly. Such precision and elegance (from big machines!) is honorable artwork, extremely difficult, and inspiring. Only a rare pilot could do it... I salute them all!

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   Becky Katzposted 10 years ago

   No, this is part of the cost cutting measures by the military. These pilots that were flying with the Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds were not part of the National Defense except in time of attack on U.S. soil. They will just be put back in the ranks with the other pilots now and will be flying for defense now. Considering that they spent most of their off time being drunk, maybe this will help them some.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think your "drunk" comment is too harsh, true or not. I think that if my job were that difficult and dangerous, I'd probably spend a lot of time being drunk, too. Besides, many people in many professions spend most of their time off being drunk.

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5. 59

   TylerKathyposted 10 years ago

   This is probably due to the Sequester. I am part of a military family. Active duty military were effected in several ways beginning a few weeks ago.  The Blue Angels will probably be up and flying again.  I think essential operations are being focused on right now.  Don't worry!

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I sure hope things will improve as you say, TylerKathy! And I hope the Angels and the Thunderbirds fly again (more practically, however: not fly-overs for sports events!!). I get chills just thinking about them: maybe gone, but NEVER forgotten!!

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6. 87

   Laura Schneiderposted 10 years ago

   Sequestration isn't a joke. I'm sad for the Blue Angels (I've seen many of their amazing shows and practice sessions) and for San Francisco. But I'm more sad that the pittance people get for unemployment benefits was cut by 11% (and unemployment benefits are taxable!).
   
   Lots of areas are being hit hard by sequestration. Write to your congresspersons and senators and tell them to shut up and un-dig their heels so some legislation can be passed to help the situation: they're embarrassing us all.
   
   Lobbyists will hopefully be cut due to sequestration, too. Ha ha. (No, I don't really believe that will ever happen, but I can hope for a brighter, more honest day.)

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      Becky Katzposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I am more worried for those who get their SS cut and VA disability cut. They aren't too worried about cutting their own wages though or a bunch of the money we give other countries so they can wage war on us.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good points, Becky! Sad, but true!

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   Ettore Simingtonposted 10 years ago

   No it isn't.  It cost a ridiculous amount of money to operate them just to put on a show.  While we are at it maybe we can stop doing fly overs for sporting events.  It is completely unnecessary and unrelated to the event.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Plus it's very dangerous for the pilots, even though they're the best: what they do is fabulous and inspiring but VERY risky. (I totally agree on the fly-overs: stupid.)
      
      Sports actually rule this country, though: bread and circuses. We're nuts.

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      ercramer36posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think that if the sporting events want a flyover they should have to pay the costs + a fee.  Tax payers should not pay for this ever.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I totally agree with both of you, Ettore Simington and ercramer36: a HUGE fee in addition to costs. The US wastes more money on sports... sports that can't cover their own ridiculous costs (stadiums, "stars"), should be sequestration victims, too.

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8. 84

   Deborah-Dianeposted 10 years ago

   We used to go down to the air show in San Diego to see the Blue Angels, and it will make me sad to see them stop performing.  However, the cost of having them perform for air shows is said to be extraordinary, and they need to cut back somewhere.  It is too bad, though!

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed, it is too bad. Cuts are being made everywhere, though.

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   ercramer36posted 10 years ago

   The Blue Angels put on a great air show, however, they have nothing to do with national security.  I do not know where you get that they patrol the polar ice cap because all they do is fly in air shows.  This is no big deal.  Let's face it, we are broke and this is an unnecessary expense.  There are so many things like this that are nice to haves but must be cut.

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10. 61

    duffsmomposted 10 years ago

    A result of budget cuts?  When do they start cutting some of the expensive activities at the White House. We all have to tighten our belts, they should too!

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       Attikosposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       The white house has just furloughed its executive chef. They'll have to make do without Dom Perignon cheesecake. Oh, the horror! They haven't shut down Obama's private brewery, though, so he'll still be in his branded beer.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Agreed, duffsmom and ercramer36 (above)! LOTS of things, including WARS (a-hem), simply must be cut. We can't police the world any more; we can't even police our schools or airports! We need to "turtle-in" awhile and get our homeland in order again.

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    Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

    Here is the seriousness of the problem. People want to see those birds fly like they do. The power, the might, the precision, the danger, the hype, the pride.
    What else draws our attention in such a way? Spaceflight is close.
    
    So the result of any long term cancellation of the programs will result in private enterprise filling that gap. There is simply too much potential to make big money. Oh for sure some laws will have to change and some restrictions on ownership of military grade aerial warships will need be reorganized, but all that takes is private money going into political campaigns.
    
    For me: I think I will be just as happy putting up some cash to view the shows and knowing that it is still America that is on display. A leaner America with less government. And that is also something to be proud of. I am very proud of our private companies entering space with such gusto.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Great points, Ericdierker! All citizens of the United States of America are created equal (pardon the misquote), one nation filled with brilliant minds and heroic acts. I, too, am very proud of our companies on the leading edges of many technologies!

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