HeloDude

PACAF CC doesn’t set policy towards China. Again, if they’re so dangerous to our interests, then we need to stop being a major part of their economy. China isn’t an ally, and they aren’t an enemy. They’re a major power player on the other side of the globe, and they’re trying to influence things around them. It’s not the first time this has happened with a different country, and it won’t be the last. If they are infringing on my liberties here in the US, then I care…otherwise, I don’t like them, but I don’t want to go to war with them. And yes, I’ll buy stuff made in their country and at most just be annoyed that it was made there vs a non-communist country. But at the end of the day…we have much bigger problems with what’s going on internally in our country before I need to worry about what’s happening half a globe away.

We average Americans have all the control…we just choose not to (or are too weak) to exercise the control. If average Americans said they wouldn’t buy Apple products made in China, I’m sure that would make Apple at least think twice to where they make their products. I wouldn’t want to live in China and train their pilots, but I wouldn’t want to do the same with Vietnamese pilots, Indian pilots, Brazilian pilots, French pilots, etc. I’ve trained pilots in Iraq (along with plenty of other “allied” nations’ pilots here in the US) so I’m good in that arena. For the record, I’m not personally a fan of China/CCP and I don’t think they’re up to much good, but yet I’m not wanting to go to war with them…to protect Taiwan, Japan, or anyone else an ocean away. The vast majority of Americans would not want us to stop trading with China, much less go to war with them. But yet you’re telling me that China is the enemy of the US? Says who?

You said you were forced to buy products made in China…I simply asked what products, who is forcing you, and how are they forcing you? If you’re just bummed that things you really want to have are only made in China (or less affordable elsewhere), then sure, I’ll give you that…but that’s not what you said. I’m not a personal fan of buying things made in China, but I don’t care enough (or think they’re my enemy) to not do so. If you’re going to call someone your enemy but continue to enrich them, then I question your sincerity.

Who exactly determines who is the enemy of the US? And why would you voluntarily trade with your enemy if it strengthens them?

You can call someone anything you want…it just doesn’t make it so. And you are not “forced” to buy products made in China lol. If so, please tell me which products, who forced you, and how did they force you, exactly.

The military doesn’t determine who our enemy is with regards to X country vs Y country. Politicians do. Let me guess…you also buy products made in China. And yes, unless you can find a way for me to retire tonight (I’m interested) then I’m still in the military.

If China is our enemy, then why are they one of our largest trading partners?…which of course helps grow their economy, and in turn, their military/capabilities? How many products do you personally buy that are made in China or have components made in China? If China is our “enemy” then you could have fooled me.

Playing devil’s advocate: How exactly are these pilots “betraying” their country?

Well, the left is against using more fossil fuels so this should make them happy.

So, as I predicted, the Dobbs decision doesn’t seem to be some great rallying cry to sink the GOP in the midterms. Sure it’s affecting a few close races here and there, and an argument could be made that it possibly could be the difference between the GOP taking the Senate or not, but here’s why the Dems aren’t capitalizing like they had hoped: Dems in swing states say that they don’t want any restrictions on abortion. So they’re taking on an extreme position of the right by offering their own extreme position. The net change: Very little when you factor in the economy, border security, energy, etc.

“With a chocolate chip ice cream cone in his hand, Biden answered: "I’m not concerned about the strength of the dollar. I’m concerned about the rest of the world. Our economy is strong as hell." https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-tells-reporter-economy-strong-hell-while-eating-ice-cream-portland

So in one post you give information regarding oil production/refinery capabilities, and also say that it has to do with business decisions and not politics. But then I ask you if laws and/or rules/regulations affect business decisions and you say you don’t know because you’re not an oil expert. Ummm, ok. Good talk!

Quick yes or no question: Do rules/regulations, either set by US law and/or regulatory organizations, ever impact what a business decides to do or not do?

Oil is at $92/barrel…it was $76/barrel on Sept 26.

I would trust wearing a condom to prevent getting someone pregnant just a little more than I would trust that the covid vaccine would keep me from getting covid.

Oh, there’s plenty of politics to go around. That’s for sure. However…this would be the equivalent of the GOP saying they wanted to ban abortion and then at the same time being upset when individual states actually ban abortion except for very rare cases. So if someone is upset that the price of gas goes up, they should most definitely be against the left on this issue because the left wants the price to go up.

The left is literally on record, time and time again, saying how bad fossil fuels are and how we’re better off using less of it. And then OPEC decides to pump less and suddenly the left says it’s a bad thing? I truly would like to hear from the progressives on here to explain this one, unless this is all about politics, and in that case, no explanation is necessary.

But the picture you showed has an HSI not a CDI…that’s some high tech stuff compared to when I flew the Huey! Though back then if I flew IFR vs special VFR then something was wrong.

Same deal when you get gas at the FBO…give them $1 and get a card for a nearby meal up $20.

I always believe the Federal government and also believe it would never intentionally lie to our faces…

Big difference from even 2016 to 2022. If you can’t say “guys” when referencing a group of people, then how can you call someone an “Airman” who isn’t a man? Or who at least doesn’t “identify with being a man”?

How long before they get rid of the term/rank “Airman”?

He was clearly caught off guard…most of CNN’s guests are picked because they agree on the issue they’re trying to promote on the network. Little different than any of the other entertainment/news channels.

“Expected Interest Rate Hike Will Add $2 Trillion to the Deficit” This is why the government shouldn’t keep on spending money it doesn’t have. If the Dems wanted to, they could have raised income tax rates without a single Republican vote, but they didn’t. https://reason.com/2022/09/20/expected-interest-rate-hike-will-add-2-trillion-to-the-deficit/