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Sorry, no one has adequately explained why my son should die for Ukraine or Taiwan. If those countries are absorbed into their respective aggressors, is anyone in the US less safe in a quantifiable way? “Defender of the global commons” is insufficient rationale unless it translates to an actual threat to US personnel. Now if you want to start some shit with China because of the US Fentanyl crisis or C19 I’m game to hear you out, but we should probably have a real intel assessment first.

Yep, sure, they changed. I never had an issue with parties - voted Republican from 2000-2008, voted for Obama in 2012, then voted Trump in 2016. I just couldn’t vote for Trump again in 2020. Some days recently, though, I wish I had. There are plenty of independents that are immensely disillusioned with wokeism, double standards, and equity BS. Also, hating on America is so fuckin lame. If an election was today, I’d put big bucks on not the Dems (if Rs can find a single person other than Trump). I just wish I could find a party that combines republican independence/foreign policy ideals with a desire to both effectively tax/deal with the folks that exploit our economy (99% of people with NWs > 50M) and acknowledge scientific evidence on things like global warming. Need more scientific populism. Geniocracy anyone? But instead, because both those things are in drastically different political parties, I - and tons of others like me - have to compromise in a dumb way.

We need to get away from this idea of "what party you will vote for in the future." If you look at the electoral college in the past, presidents from both sides won overwhelming majorities of the country, and the states swung from left to right like a pendulum. We need to go back to that. There should be no Democratic or Republican voters. Those are teams. There are certainly liberal-minded and conservative-minded people, but those people should make a decision on which politicians and which parties represent their priorities at the moment they cast a vote, and just like those priorities change regularly and in response to the world around us, so too should the people you vote for each election. I know you aren't advocating for party loyalty, but I think we're at a point where even the language we use to describe politics is inadvertently reinforcing the notion that each of us belongs to a political team, and the voting trends support this notion.

New CBT requirement prior to deployment.

For what its worth Negatory, I don't think you're stupid. You're one of the few members on this forum that is capable of examining another side and making an honest admission when you see things differently. I've seen that in the COVID thread. Rather, this is really solid evidence of how strong our echo chambers can be. And while you read an article that convinced you it was a Republican echo chamber propogating a myth, you quickly realized you were actually the one that was unaware of what the narrative was. No big deal, you fessed up to it and we move on. Both sides are guilty of it. You win points because you did 2 things. 1.) You heard something you thoght was wrong so you looked it up. Unfortunately what you looked up was wrong but you still tried due dilligence to get the story straight. 2.) When you recognized its wrong you owned it. In my book that earns you big points and you are the type of dude I would love the share beers with and discuss controversial opinions we don't agree one.

Yeah. I will say it is and was very hard to remain unbiased in news sourcing since the Trump presidency for both sides (maybe it actually began around Obama?). I’m wrong in this case, for sure. COVID, ironically, has been the biggest eye opener of people being brainwashed for me. I think I’m doing better now.

It’s certainly amazing how fast this whole thing disappeared from the mainstream view. Good thing there is another COVID variant to drum up fear porn over.

Ahem! Uhh Mr. Mayor, point of order...

Honestly there's been plenty of jerking around and years of unknown at this point, but its the AF and we're all active duty so it's not like we're about to end up on the street or anything. In the grand scheme of things, it could be much worse. I like flying Global Hawk a lot more than being maintenance and the doors it has opened have been great. Long term I'll look back at it all positively. I just hope our dudes get taken care of.

Not sure what there is on the island of Formosa for the CCP to reposes? Unlike many third world nations, Taipei hasn't wanted or needed mainland Chinese help in building any of their infrastructure. The CCP effectively has no presence in Taiwan, so I think it'd be pretty hard to "reposes" anything there without assaulting it first.

Well hell, that won’t sell ads and generate clicks.

This period will go down in history as the time when America squabbled with itself over internal trivialities while China built its swarming hordes into a military and economic monster. We need to focus on turning the entire world - including Russia - against China and letting go of moronic stupid shit like “let’s go Brandon” and calling everyone a racist.

I genuinely appreciate the honesty as well. I am curious if your views on who or which party you will vote for in the future has changed. If not, why? If so, are there any other narratives that you are opening your eyes to other than COVID? I ask because I’m hopeful that eyes are being opened all over the country to various false narratives. I think Virginia is a sign of that.

The same highside analysis that predicted Afghanistan wouldn’t fall in 24 hours? You can plan whatever you want, if leader ship is paralyzed with indecision you still lose.

*On the internet.

I hadn’t seen or followed the Pelosi thing. Although it was in January before we were in pandemic mode, I’ll say I stand corrected. I just never felt like people were mad about travel bans once we agreed Covid was a thing. Whoa buddy, calm your tits. But overreaction is a specialty on this forum.

Oh don’t forget speaker of the house. questions?

This thread is emblematic of there literally being two completely different understandings of reality out there in contemporary American society.

When Afghanistan fell in such a shameful fashion, it became obvious our nation wouldn’t do anything about Taiwan or Ukraine either.

After Crimea, I think we can pretty much say we can do nothing. Taiwan will also fall with nothing more than a sternly worded letter from the UN.

I know there are some petty and small minded commanders who justify your apprehension, and that’s unfortunate. I believe crossflow (assuming it’s the members choice) is ultimately in the best interest of the Air Force because people do better when they want to be somewhere. I recommend simply talking to your boss and functional. It is a risk, but embrace that risk and be bold. Here are approaches that will resonate with your CC: 1. In what circumstances would you support a cross flow out of our community? 2. I desire to cross flow into xxx program because I think that type of service is suited to my skills. What can I do to receive your endorsement? Item one allows you to grasp the perspective from their viewpoint. The goal is information gathering so you can manage expectations and strategize your next approach. Item two keeps the focus on mission and how you can better serve. What organization wouldn’t want people to serve in ways which best match their personalities and skills? Keep it professional, but don’t be afraid to ask direct questions. I’ve worked a lot of these; here are some observations: you have to be good at your current platform. Not “ok” and not just good in your mind. Be in the top 25% strat-wise, but also be actually good at your mission. Both your commander and functional must agree, as well as the gaining functional (meaning, you need to know their pipeline throughout capacity, what that does to your timing). Keep a professional attitude and be up front to your commander. “Up front” doesn’t mean you have to accept the dictate of your commander if they are the rare petty breed discussed earlier: you can simply tell that person “I’m going to continue to try everything I can to move into XX community.” But those are rare. More often I see members trying to be sneaky and play people against each other and end up getting sideways with their commander. Not a good spot to be, the commander is extremely influential in this process but not solely determinative. Also it matters how you leave your last community to your gaining commander. My final recommendation is have a specific platform in mind. Commanders are busy and so are functionals, they aren’t going fishing for you. Have something specific you want and do your homework on the timing, both your own personal timing (PDE, TOS, upgrades, etc.) and the general timing of new FTU. “I want to do something different but I don’t know what” is going to get you white jets. Big picture: be professional, straightforward about your desires and rationale, and be very good at your existing job. That is how you best position yourself; then luck in timing will hit your plan and who knows what happens. Good luck, I wish you the best.

The left only cares that they have someone in office who will champion their progressive causes…calling Trump a racist was just to motivate their left wing base and attempt to have some in the middle feel guilty for originally supporting Trump. If not for double standards, the left wouldn’t have any standards at all.

Never heard of AMC, huh?

i think a lot of us forgot about the program to be honest. sorry it's working out so badly. also, i dig your username, have been told to take a NAP by an erstwhile NotAPilot (different kind, different sentiment)

Would you tell us more about what is happening? Many of us have no clue about this subject.