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I’m married with 3 kids.

My disposable income has decreased, along with everyone I know, due to inflation and rising gas prices.

Good God those are some massive rose-colored glasses you have on. Maybe take a time out and open the aperture a little beyond how full flights currently are. I'd start with the energy sector, the stock market, highest inflation in 40 years, a ludicrous housing/rental market, etc. None of those paint a "good economy," and certainly not a good one in the near future as a likely large recession is looming. Hope you're not out buying all your toys on credit right now.

This is exactly what I was talking about in my last post when it comes to the absolute vacuum of leadership ability in the current administration. The lefty advisors sitting around thinking of their next move can't even help themselves when it comes to their hatred of the oil industry. So they draft up a letter from Biden that simply attacks the oil industry vs trying to be part of a solution. Like I had said before, the administration could stick to their public goal of trying to move away from fossil fuels while also actually working to help the American public today. There is absolutely no reason the President's letter couldn't have been an olive branch reaching out to the oil industry seeing how the federal government could work with and help the oil industry to increase supply and production. "To the American people, today I sent a letter to America's oil executives expressing my office's desire to sit down and come to real solutions on how to increase oil supply in this country. Make no mistake, my administration is still committed to furthering America's movement towards green energy, a process I feel the oil industry can be a part of as well; but this is a long process that will take time. American's are hurting now though, I feel that pain, and we are going to work together with America's oil and gas industry to make things better." But instead we get more of the "oil is evil talk". This administration is just simply inept.

First 4-FLUG ride - setting up left echelon turn to initial for a right break

We always used to do the great Ambien challenge while staying in Camp California at Manas. You pop your Ambien in the camp, then need to walk the 20 minutes down to the bar, chug your two "#9" beers, then cross the street to the Green Bean and get the strongest coffee you could, because the challenge wasn't over until you made it back to Camp California. Many tried, few survived.

Wise strategy in lieu of the Hunter Biden stories; while true and investigation worthy- doesn’t meet the appeal threshold of the public, specifically those on the fence. GOP needs to start playing the dem campaign games.

Recently or from 14 years ago when this thread started? Either way, I’m comfortable saying it’s not fun.

I agree, there should be footnotes or something.

All too many threads have become politically charged (guilty myself), so let's have at least one thread to lighten things up.

I’m sorry, we’re looking for MLA.

That is some level 9 satire, bro. If it's not, well, let's just say everyone is less well off than before all this inflation hit (https://www.axios.com/2022/06/15/what-workers-really-want-raises-that-beat-inflation). People are spending more money because prices are higher and they have to. Wages are not keeping pace with price inflation (https://news.wttw.com/2022/06/08/inflation-overpowers-city-minimum-wage-hike). Also, logic that says "because we're full, it's all good" ignores all the scheduling optimization that goes into creating an airline schedule. Remember, all seven major US airlines have reduced their flying this summer. The reason is immaterial. Delta could fly one line per day, and every single seat would be filled. That has nothing to do with the prevailing economic undercurrent.

We now have the President telling companies what an acceptable profit margin is. Biden tells oil companies in letter 'well above normal' refinery profit margins are 'not acceptable' (cnbc.com)

Not a tough as training to be a special ops fighter pilot.

Wait, what? It is? Unemployment is at record lows. Personal income is up month over month, as is disposable income, as is consumer spending. Our load factors are back to pre-Covid levels if not higher. We're often full, and we've been leaving non-revs behind at least half the time. What's going on in your world that has the economy in the toilet where you live?

And when there’s no one else to blame, and your party runs both the House and the Senate, then blame the GOP lol…it’s not going well for old Joe. “Biden Blames Republicans in Congress for Soaring Inflation” https://www.nationalreview.com/news/biden-blames-republicans-in-congress-for-soaring-inflation/?fbclid=IwAR1Y_5GZV8YiTGjtv8AJqvtjZcML3UBQNSppsFBR5NxaC-Bhy-bwpSKMIDA

Sadly it’s all political. The left over the years have been on record for saying how bad they think fossil fuels are, how they want them to go away…even if it costs the average American citizen more money. Biden signs EOs to make it harder/more expensive to harness the energy of fossil fuels, he has advisors who are openly against fossil fuels, and the Dems have not produced any legislation that reduces regulations on fossil fuels. But the rising gas prices are now the fault of…wait for it…Putin’s war in Ukraine and those evil greedy oil executives. Biden doesn’t deserve 100% of the blame for the rising costs, but he does deserve 100% for not trying to lower the costs.

Now it all make sense - drove across the country a while ago, multiple days of it being windy as shit and tons of turbines not turning. The failure of current “green energy” on full display. Concur with others though, I fully support energy advancement, but let’s do it on a realistic timeline and not rush it, which in turn ends in failure with the bonus of destroying our economy and crushing the middle and lower class.

there is so much revenue to be create from O&G that can better our country as far as infrastructure, education and other programs that could really help those in need, I dont know why we want to race away from that sector. The US is in a position to be the global energy export leader. When you factor all the jobs involved in Exploration and production (Drilling), Midstream (Transportation) and Downstream (Refining and delivery), ppl only think of hte big players like Exxon and Chevron but there are thousands of other businesses all involved in the process. Maintenance, Integrity, Installation, there are hundreds of thousands employed. Planting a bunch of wind farms wont create the jobs claimed. I also challenge proponents of wind to drive through WY on any given day and notice all the turbines that are idle due to wind loads. Turbines need wind but too much and they break. IMO our energy policy should be to be an Energy leader while supporting R&D to develop new technologies that can be more efficient.

I am sorry but you are straight up regurgitating the DNC talking points that spew out of the White House..."Putin Price Hike"...Come on Man. Of course it is global...and what we do at home impacts global supply. When Biden declared war on the U.S. energy industry and surrendered energy our independence he EARNED that sticker. Yes restarting the world economy and a war in Ukraine impact supply and demand but much of the increase happened before Putin went rouge and it is because we constrained our U.S. supply. We are now begging Venezuela, Saudi and Iran to produce more oil as if somehow that doesn't emit carbon like U.S. based oil does...Come on man! Please STOP referencing the 9,000 unused leased without giving the rest of the story. Does the energy industry have 9,000 leases to drill on government owned land, absolutely...does the government drag their feet, fight in court and block those leases at every turn...YES. The average time to get through the regulatory process is 10 YEARS. Then they fight all mechanisms to move and process the oil (pipelines and refineries). The oil market is not just a supply and demand curve, perception has a large influence. Would approving Keystone increase the supply of oil tomorrow, nope...but the price of oil would immediately fall on perception. This entire situation is purposeful - Biden said, “I want you to look at my eyes. I guarantee you. I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel.” A lofty goal and something but a realistic timeline that doesn't destroy our economy would be a far better approach. Sadly, Biden doesn't comprehend how oil impacts every segment of our economy. This situation is going to get a LOT worse.

Ive never understood this sentiment. You are essentially posting the millennial job paradox. LF: Experienced leader to be President of US. Must have 10 years experience running countries. Who are you going to find like that? A state is literally the next lowest executive echelon in the US. Like if you want someone with public service executive experience, a governor is literally your most qualified candidate.

Concur. I'm not against the movement towards renewable energy sources, but the way the current administration feels it needs to force it down everyone's throats during their hopefully one-and-done tenure is not the solution! The US was moving in the right direction and at the right pace, but damning those who still use fossil fuels will result in a resentment that will hurt the Dems come election time, and rightfully so. Sorry, but the part you support is famous for good idea fairies that fail during implementation...because they don't know how to moderate themselves. The attitude they are smarter than anyone is laughable, and despite Trump acting the same way at least he had the wherewithal to do things that actually helped the economy and people. Trust me, Trump was the last person I wanted to vote for on the Republican ticket; but these past 18 months have proven despite what a giant ass he was, he did more for your average American instead of focusing on those who cannot determine what gender they are!

A good read. One of our former U-2 Brothers was on this crew. He has some really good pics. https://coffeeordie.com/c-17-secret-mission-kabul/

full steam ahead, until full reverse!

SOS is where pilots learn how inept *most* of the AF really is and why everything outside a flying sq is a dysfunctional sh-tshow.

I roomed my my FE on our first deployment; he’d make a paste from Pepto-Bismol and crushed ambien, then brush it onto cigarettes and smoke them. I never tried it myself, but it did appear to create substantial effects.

Heard from a Marine fighter pilot - "A no-go pill, a few beers, and a couple of smokes and you're in a whole other world."

Well it won't matter. The economy is tanking, and it won't be long before the airlines start to furlough. Then the AF will have "solved" their pilot retention program for a couple of years. No need for civilian IPs at that point.

That's about the quality of analysis I would expect when you ask a Polish 50-year-old contractor about a geopolitical dispute in a region his family has deep and emotional ties to.

What was BUDs like?