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NEWS! Once again crooked defense contracts rob American tax-payers

Pentagon set to buy 375 F-35 fighter jets that can’t fly

If you’re paying $1.7 TRILLION for a state-of-the-art, all-weather stealth fighter jet, don’t you want to make sure that it can at least get in the air? 🤔 Soar through the clouds and see the bright blue sky?

Well, as of the most recent published count, 9 percent of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets can’t because, according to the GAO, “they don't have a working engine.” And yet, the Pentagon is STILL asking Congress for $30 BILLION more to buy 375 failed F-35s.

So why is our government so committed to a flawed plane? Well, it might be a coincidence, but over the last 20 years, the weapons industry has spent $285 million in political donations and $2.5 BILLION on lobbying to gain influence. What’s more: Last summer, an investigation found that at least 47 members of Congress or their spouses hold stock in weapons corporations.

Let’s break that down: Taxpayer money is redistributed to weapons corporations by the same people cashing checks from the weapons lobby. We call that corruption — it’s time for a change. No more tax money for war profiteers!

Write your Congress persons and demand accountability from defense contractors

Demand a ban on Congress members holding stock while in office
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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
The suckers actually DO fly.. (We bought some too) Just not as well as the F 18s they are supposed to replace. But it doesnt matter.. The drone tech and missile tech will be putting paid to most of the need for expensive aircraft that have to survive pretty soon.😷
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@whowasthatmaskedman We have politicians forking over huge amounts of OUR tax money for weapons systems we don't need because they have been bribed by defense contractors!

We need that tax money for health care, education, affordable housing, public transit and other beneficial programs - Taxes for Domestic Improvements, not wasteful wars!
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@badminton I couldnt agree with you more.. And for us its even worse. We are paying the Americans. Its like importing Dodges.....
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@sunsporter1649 Corrupt defense contractors are selling the U.S. military flawed weapons. That is a serious danger to our national defense. Military contractors MUST be held accountable for defrauding the government (and tax payers.)
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@badminton And P-51's had a little problem with the wings falling off during WWII, and F-8 Crusaders had a little problem with the fuel transfer system, and the C-5 Galaxy's had a little problem with the engins falling off, you suggest we should quit flying airplanes and revert to tethered balloons like WWI?
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@sunsporter1649 The F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft have proven very reliable over many years. Maybe advanced versions of those planes, with state-of -the-art weapons systems, radar, etc. would be a better investment than the trouble-ridden F-35.
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@badminton LOL, how old is that car you motor your butt around town?
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@sunsporter1649 I don't own a car. But if I did I'd want it to have a working engine, which the F-35 often does not.
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@badminton LOL, ya wanna make a guess how many aircraft, military and civilian, are grounded at any one time for maintenance, scheduled inspections, or awaiting parts?
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 We get it. America now builds $h*t aircraft too. Did we ever get to the bottom of that 737 Max cover up? I mean "investigation?"😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Ah, so you are now an expert on the training of commercial airline pilots in non-US flag carriers?
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 So "Pilot error" strikes again...Those planes had computer issues that the company knew about and covered up. And it was well reported.. Of course it may not have made it onto Tucker Carlson. No one expects you to check facts before rushing in like this..Thats just who you are..😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman LOL, the computer issues were in the pilots of those two crashes minds. Three ways to disconnect the auto-flight controls on Boeing aircraft. Bang on the yoke, everything disconnected. Push down on the trim button, everything disconnected. Reach down, turn off auto-flight switch, everything disconnected. Dig up those pilots and ask them why they did not follow procedures. Almost everything on Boeing commercial aircraft is triple-redundant, but nobody can design to overcome inadequate training and procedures
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 So its perfectly fine to have a system fail as long as you can switch it off. I am glad we cleared that up.. I am just one of those old fashioned people who actually expects something to do what its supposed to do..😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Ever have a flat tire on your auto?
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 That standard of performance would be fine if you could put the plane over on a cloud and get under the hood. This is Boeing messing with the lives of hundreds of people and losing the bet..But even that is not the real issue. It is that Boi\eng kept the plane in service knowing the issue existed..😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman I can build you an airplane that would never crash, but of course nobody on this planet has enough money to purchase one
Mindful · 56-60, F
@sunsporter1649 I have enough for an 8.5x11

Let’s call it P8511
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 No. You cant build me an airplane that will never crash. But allowing any aircraft to be put into service with the same actuarial philosophy of calculated risk of failure as US car makers are known for with the cost of making it right against the probability of lives lost. is criminal. Or it should be..But Boeing did it..😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman Once again, people who know nothing about a particular subject making unknowledgeable decisions, reminds me of the current administration
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 How many points do you have to lose before you learn to STFU!?😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman The dude that is the current Secretary of Transportation has how many years in the transportation industry?
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@sunsporter1649 A POLICY appointment means nothing. Particularly in America. Go feed the ducks..
😷
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
@whowasthatmaskedman yup, far more important to check off a box instead of someone with experience enough to tell a combustion chamber from a tin can
SW-User