Trump

[Brookie1973]

We seem to have crossed in the mail ... @Isz I am inclined to agree with your analysis of the intentions behind the structure of the American system; unfortunately for the Americans I think their inflamed politics have crossed over boundaries into their judicial sphere. How to re-separate them, and generally how to lower the temperature before lasting damage is done, those will be the problems they need to solve. Well, just as an outsider looking over the fence.

Not solvable I’m afraid. Seems we are inextricably heading for a one party state (elites) who control the working class (plebs) after the destruction of the middle class. Centralised control will replace personal freedom. The idea of true democracy and one person one vote will likely be discarded to the waste basket of history. Hopefully Manly can win another premiership before then.

 

[lsz]

I have a feeling that Paul Keating's famous slur about the Senate being "unrepresentative swill" is most appropriate for the US Federal judiciary.

For me, the two biggest issues that really set the US up for failure are:

1. The politicised judicial system.
2. The lack of an independent electoral system like we have here. The inconsistency of voting systems and the gerrymandering of electorates just blows my mind.

 

[Woodsie]

For me, the two biggest issues that really set the US up for failure are:

1. The politicised judicial system.
2. The lack of an independent electoral system like we have here. The inconsistency of voting systems and the gerrymandering of electorates just blows my mind.

and a polarising and politically motivated media inflaming passions and division ... not to mention the proliferation of unrestricted fake news ...

 

[Brookie1973]

Turns out the Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the DC airliner crash was a female trainee who ignored directives from her male trainer to turn away to avoid the collision. I recall Trump being lambasted for linking the crash to DEI policies.

 

[CollaroyJo]

So Yes a female captain undergoing night flying annual evaluation!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that the air traffic control was under staffed.... up to a 1/3 below staffing levels and working up to 10 hour shifts and 6 days a week !!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that because the plane and the helicopter were not on the same channel and could not hear each others transmissions!!!!
Plus a host of other systemic errors.
No of course it had to be due to DEI ????
A tragedy that should not be used for political pathetic point scoring

 

[Brookie1973]

So Yes a female captain undergoing night flying annual evaluation!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that the air traffic control was under staffed.... up to a 1/3 below staffing levels and working up to 10 hour shifts and 6 days a week !!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that because the plane and the helicopter were not on the same channel and could not hear each others transmissions!!!!
Plus a host of other systemic errors.
No of course it had to be due to DEI ????
A tragedy that should not be used for political pathetic point scoring

“Not only was the Blackhawk flying too high, its pilot failed to heed a directive from her co-pilot, an army flight instructor, to change course”. Source NYT.

I’m not a Blackhawk pilot, but it sounds to me that if she’d turned when she was instructed to, 70 people might be alive today, regardless of staffing levels in air traffic control, radio frequencies etc.

I’m not saying there may not be other factors involved, but isn't it just as reckless to automatically dismiss DEI hiring practices as a possible cause? It is also interesting that until now, the female pilot was simply being identified in mainstream press as “the third soldier involved” in the crash, not as the pilot.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

So Yes a female captain undergoing night flying annual evaluation!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that the air traffic control was under staffed.... up to a 1/3 below staffing levels and working up to 10 hour shifts and 6 days a week !!!!
Nothing to do with the fact that because the plane and the helicopter were not on the same channel and could not hear each others transmissions!!!!
Plus a host of other systemic errors.
No of course it had to be due to DEI ????
A tragedy that should not be used for political pathetic point scoring

I didn't know the investigation was completed?
Meanwhile clearly some of our astute rugby league fans assume the fact a pilot was female means she obviously had to be a 'DEI' hire
(Presumably because they believe, who in their right mind would let a female train to be a helicopter pilot)(or something).
These are probably the same people that tell jokes (to each other) about women drivers, no doubt they crack each other up

 

[lsz]

Turns out the Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the DC airliner crash was a female trainee who ignored directives from her male trainer to turn away to avoid the collision. I recall Trump being lambasted for linking the crash to DEI policies.

Have not read she was a trainee?

Judging by this it did not seem that way but happy to be corrected

Army identifies Third Soldier involved in Helicopter Crash

At the request of and in coordination with the family, the Army is releasing the name of the third Soldier who died while performing a training mission...

www.army.mil

Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an aviation officer (15A) in the regular Army from July 2019 to January 2025. She has no deployments. She was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft Belvoir, Va. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.

From the reporting I have seen it seemed like she did ignore a direction however it also seems there were other potential contributing factors.....although the sources I have seen seem sketchy at best!

 

[Brookie1973]

Have not read she was a trainee?

Judging by this it did not seem that way but happy to be corrected

Army identifies Third Soldier involved in Helicopter Crash

At the request of and in coordination with the family, the Army is releasing the name of the third Soldier who died while performing a training mission...

www.army.mil

Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an aviation officer (15A) in the regular Army from July 2019 to January 2025. She has no deployments. She was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft Belvoir, Va. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.

From the reporting I have seen it seemed like she did ignore a direction however it also seems there were other potential contributing factors.....although the sources I have seen seem sketchy at best!

It was a training mission. Hence she was a trainee.

 

[Brookie1973]

I didn't know the investigation was completed?
Meanwhile clearly some of our astute rugby league fans assume the fact a pilot was female means she obviously had to be a 'DEI' hire
(Presumably because they believe, who in their right mind would let a female train to be a helicopter pilot)(or something).
These are probably the same people that tell jokes (to each other) about women drivers, no doubt they crack each other up

The US Armed Forces have openly adopted DEI practices, including gender quotas. I think it is reasonable to assume a female Blackhawk pilot is a byproduct of those policies.

I am sure there are many great female pilots. No argument. But I am open minded enough to ponder whether filling quotas based on gender, skin colour and other factors might lead to those best qualified for roles being overlooked.

Any thoughts on HMNZS Manawanaui?

 

[lsz]

It was a training mission. Hence she was a trainee.

I am not sure it is that simple

I undergo training as part of keeping some of my qualifications- does not make be a trainee

 

[Brookie1973]

I am not sure it is that simple

I undergo training as part of keeping some of my qualifications- does not make be a trainee

Ok, happy to change “trainee” to “someone being trained”.