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DesideriScuri -> RE: TEApublicans want to spend 3 Billion dollars on unneeded tanks (2/9/2013 7:09:00 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Fightdirecto
AATTP
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TEApublicans like Paul Ryan and other idiots are pushing for the purchase of 300 new M1 Abrams tanks that even the Army doesn’t want! Cost? THREE BILLION DOLLARS!!!
"We need more tanks - despite what the Army says"
Did you not see where the letter to Leon Panetta (April 20th, not exactly news, btw) was signed by 173 Congresspeople, and that those 173 Congresspeople came from both sides of the aisle? Apparently, now you are also calling some Democrats "TEApublicans." Very easy to see your political affiliation.
Btw, Al Madrigal is f-ing genius. I don't know how some of the people he interviews don't beat the shit out of him or get overcome by fits of laughter. The military person he interviewed looked perplexed as to how Madrigal could be so stupid (sending more tanks to NV just in case it is attacked). I expected him to laugh. The old kook I thought was going to attack Madrigal for making him look completely stupid.
This isn't just a Republican/Democrat issue. It's both sides of the aisle. Yet another instance of Corporatism. CNN did a piece on it, too. It isn't anywhere as humorous, but it did take the story a bit further.
According to General Dynamics, keeping the Lima Tank Plant open until upgrades to tanks start (2017) would cost less than to completely shutter it now, and then reopen it and get it ready for the upgrades. I can't discredit that claim. I have no idea. I can't substantiate it, either, for the same reason. That could be valid, but isn't there a better way to do things? I'm thinking there is. Maybe go with a "General Dynamics" package for the Ford F-x50 series, the Chevy Silverado, and/or the Dodge Ram pickups? That keeps the plant open and the employees working. No, they aren't really making tanks, but they are still making a moving vehicle, or upgrading one at any rate. Keeping it open would be producing something that people might want to buy, instead of sitting them out in the desert. And, when the time nears, the plant could be retooled for the tank upgrades.
And, as further proof that this isn't just a Left/Right thing, consider this:quote:
The [intentionally left blank by me] is working hard to make sure that the Abrams program is maintained so our troops continue to have the world’s best battle tank, the taxpayers’ interests are served and decent-paying jobs are maintained. If the Abrams program is idled or discontinued, it is feared its highly skilled and highly specialized workers will by necessity move from the area to take other work to support their families. Once they move, restarting the Abrams program during a national emergency would extremely difficult. quote:
"While we were successful in saving the Abrams tank program in 2012, we must continue the fight to preserve the production in 2013,” [Ohio Democrat Senator Sherrod] Brown said. “Ending the Abrams production line would jeopardize our national security, the safety of our men and women in uniform, and the highly skilled workforce in Lima – not to mention that eliminating this program would be more costly to taxpayers than continuing it. That’s why I will continue to push to ensure that the Abrams program remains intact for years to come."
I can understand the point of shuttering and bringing the plant back up, but I do question if it truly does save money to keep running. Couldn't we develop a different vehicle to be produced there that we might possibly have some desire for, rather than continuing to produce a tank that we have 2400 of in use, and 3,000 sitting idle int NV? General Dynamics should have bought the Hummer line from Chevy/Chrysler (whichever owned it). Imagine the Hummer Abrams edition.
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