I see the problem. You see it. There are millions out there that, too, see it. Unfortunately, there are many millions that are selectively blind. They find it acceptable for potus to frivolously spend billions, unabashedly collecting personal billions from countries seeking, and realizing information and favor. Tell me...where are the many billions of oil dollars coming out of Venezuela? A bit of that could go a long way to improve conditions for our suffering sailors. Instead, they call the suffering "fake news". I reckon improving conditions would be conceding that conditions are poor.
It is evident how our military is so loved by their commander in chief.
@markinkansas Oh, I am sure they do, as much as possible. I don't how practicable sending packages is though. Without port calls any mail can be delivered only by the supply-ships replenishing the carrier and its escorts at sea.
I do. But clearly America doesnt. They voted him in. Twice.. This aircraft carrier is a ship, right? Cant they throw a net over the back or something??😷
@markinkansas On the surface it sure is. Now remember that this person will have a drivers licence, the right to vote and maybe even offspring.. And be afraid. Very afraid...😷
Eugenics and Sterilization in KansasWinfield Facility: In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Dr. F. Hoyt Pilcher performed unauthorized castrations and sterilizations at the Kansas State Home for the Feeble-Minded in Winfield.
250 consecutive days at sea without a port stop. On a Pirate ship The Head: Pirates used seats with holes cut into them at the bow (front) of the ship.Natural Flushing: Waves and sea spray naturally washed the waste away.No Showers: Pirates did not have running water or private indoor bathrooms to get moldy.The Bilge: Human waste and garbage sometimes collected at the bottom of the ship, creating a terrible smell.How Pirates Fought Mold and RotScrubbing Decks: Crewmates used vinegar, sand, and seawater to scrub the wood.Smoking the Ship: Pirates burned sulfur or tar below deck to kill fungus and bugs.Drying Sails: Crew members spread wet canvas in the sun whenever possible.Pumping Water: Pirates worked hand pumps daily to remove standing water from the bilge.Mental Health and Jumping ShipVoluntary Crew: Most pirates chose this life, unlike forced sailors in the Royal Navy.Mutiny: Stressed or angry pirates would overthrow the captain instead of hurting themselves.Marooning: Crew members who broke rules were left on deserted islands as punishment.Desertion: Pirates unhappy with the life would sneak away at a friendly tropical port.😉
@Khenpal1 Those conditions were typical on wooden-hulled sailing ships for centuries, pirates or peaceful. They also suffered continually damp clothes, very limited, bad food and stagnant drinking-water; and had very poor medical facilities.
The bilge-pumping was necessary thanks to leaky hulls as well as water splashing in from the deck.
That was all routine - no excuse for it now.
The "pirate" stuff has been over-romanticised and warped by the Hollywood ignorami. Its peak in the Atlantic and Caribbean was in the 16th-17th Centuries when England and Spain were in a state of war; and most of the pirates were English privateers (approximating to mercenaries) attacking Spanish ships carrying valuables looted in turn from the indigenous Amercans.
BTW not all Royal Navy crewmen were Pressed-men despite the horrible life. That was more common in war. Quite a lot of young men joined the Navy or Army (which also used similar underhand recruiting tactics) voluntarily to escape poverty and worse living conditions on land; especially for farm labourers and the like.
The officers were volunteers (some on bought commisions - I think Nelson was involved in ending that corrupt practice), and the midshipmen normally were. Their lives on board were not much better. The Captain and senior officers had cabins, the midshipmen slung their hammocks 'tween decks midships, but that's about all.
That escape from the land was reflected in the Industrial Revolution. Employment and working conditions in early-19C factories were awful, many workers rented homes in cramped, jerry-built housing-estates that often degenerated into slums, yet it was marginally better than rural life for such people.
@ArishMell wander if Yankees are getting any Rum 🥳Suicide Attempts Overboard: In August 2026, a sailor assigned to the carrier's air wing suffered a severe mental health crisis and jumped overboard into turbulent seas. The sailor was rescued by a helicopter after an hour. Families and military outlets report that other sailors have had to be physically restrained from jumping overboard.Mold and Broken Plumbing: Families of the 5,000 crew members have publicly voiced outrage, describing moldy showers, broken toilets, and a lack of basic hygiene supplies like soap and toothpaste.Food and Resource Shortages: Supply lines have been heavily disrupted by the conflict. Sailors have faced severe exhaustion and strict food rationing, with leaked photos showing low-quality, unidentifiable meals.The Pushback and RealityDespite these defensive claims, military families and journalists from outlets like the Military Times have accused Hegseth of "gaslighting" the force.While the Pentagon publicly downplayed the crisis, internal pressure mounted. During a heated town hall meeting with families, Navy leaders quietly admitted to ongoing toilet failures, shower mold, and massive supply backlogs caused by the war.In a similar situation of a prolonged naval blockade with no port calls, the reality would be a severe, cascading crisis of physical decay, extreme psychological exhaustion, and strained logistics.Military experts, maritime history, and naval studies show that a warship kept at sea indefinitely under combat stress faces predictable, unavoidable failures across multiple areas.The Physical Reality: Rapid Environmental DecayUnstoppable Mold: Ships have tight, closed-loop ventilation systems. When thousands of sailors sweat, shower, and breathe in a humid ocean climate, moisture builds up rapidly. If ventilation filters cannot be replaced, toxic black mold spreads aggressively through living quarters and bathrooms ("heads").Plumbing System Failures: Warship sewage systems are highly complex and rely on constant vacuum pressure. Under continuous, heavy 24/7 use by thousands of crew members without shipyard maintenance, pipes clog, valves fail, and toilets overflow, creating severe biohazards.Supply Chain Breakdown: In an active war zone or blockade, cargo planes and resupply ships must prioritize ammunition, jet fuel, and mechanical parts. Personal comfort items—like soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and fresh vegetables—are always deprioritized, leading to rationing.🧠 The Psychological Reality: The "Pressure Cooker" EffectLoss of the "Light at the End of the Tunnel": The hardest part of a deployment for a sailor is not the work, but the uncertainty. When a return date is canceled indefinitely, morale plummets because the brain cannot process a goal post that keeps moving.Sensory Deprivation and Exhaustion: Sailors work 12- to 16-hour shifts in windowless, noisy metal compartments under artificial lights. Over months, this completely disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to chronic sleep deprivation, paranoia, and severe clinical depression.The Overboard Reality: In extreme cases of "cruise fatigue," a sailor's rational coping mechanisms break down completely. When the environment feels like an inescapable prison, jumping overboard can be viewed by a desperate mind as the only physical exit available.⚠ The Operational Reality: Combat Readiness DropsRise in Human Error: As sailors burn out, their focus slips. On a warship, a minor mistake due to exhaustion can lead to catastrophic accidents, such as flight deck mishaps, navigation errors, or improper weapons handling.Command Breakdown: A divide naturally forms between the crew and the leadership. If sailors feel that high-level commands or politicians are downplaying their suffering, trust in the chain of command shatters, leading to quiet resistance, malingering (faking illness), or a surge in disciplinary issues.in the case of the USS Abraham Lincoln, the ship's captain and immediate admirals are unlikely to be court-martialed for neglect under military law.UCMJ Article 110 explicitly states that a "mere error in judgment" during complex wartime scenarios does not constitute a criminal offense. Because the extreme deployment was directly ordered by the Pentagon to combat Iranian forces, the ship's leadership can argue they had no choice but to follow orders and keep fighting—meaning the harsh conditions were an unfortunate reality of war rather than criminal neglect. The "Navy Cruise" Joke: The Navy uses recruitment slogans like "See the world." Sailors trapped at sea joke that they are definitely seeing the world—just the exact same patch of gray ocean for nine months straight.Hull Shortages: The U.S. Navy only has 11 active aircraft carriers. Splitting them between the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Middle East means there are not enough physical ships available to keep rotating crews seamlessly.
