Military struggling to meet quota.

[Rasputin_Vol]

In less than 40 years we've managed to drive it exponentially to where unskilled jobs are flirting with $15/hr, and goods are commensurately higher. We've just priced ourselves out of the world labor market, insured the balance of trade will never be flipped in our favor, decreased participation in the job market, and a lot of people are happy as pigs in slop because they have absolutely no idea what it all means. Inflation is an economy killer, and it's working like a charm.

My gawd you damn boomers don't even understand inflation.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

In less than 40 years we've managed to drive it exponentially to where unskilled jobs are flirting with $15/hr, and goods are commensurately higher. We've just priced ourselves out of the world labor market, insured the balance of trade will never be flipped in our favor, decreased participation in the job market, and a lot of people are happy as pigs in slop because they have absolutely no idea what it all means. Inflation is an economy killer, and it's working like a charm.

You obviously hate workers. No doubt in my mind you have a deep disdain for workers making more money.

I'm all for capitalism, but the system we have right now is crony capitalism... or corporatism.

 

[VolStrom]

My gawd you damn boomers don't even understand inflation.

I understand it. Joe Biden takes office, makes stupid EO after stupid EO then creates a huge budget and signs massive spending bills into office and suddenly my fixed annuity pension plan is not worth as much as it was yesterday. Let the good times roll.

 

[AM64]

I didn't join for the pay, the benefits or the free beer and easy girls, I joined because I wanted to jump out of airplanes, play in the woods, shoot and blow **** up. Basically I wanted to do cool stuff and think I was a badass, plus I had to get the hell out of dodge before mom found out I had dropped of college. I think (at least the Army) misses the mark on their advertising by not playing to the young, dumb Hogs out there that aren't interested in learning a skill or have a career in mind.

Can't say I was as nuts as you, but I was burned out on school (junior at UT), so I quit school and enlisted in the Army. In 1967 if you didn't enlist, there was a good chance you'd be drafted, so you might as well semi control your destiny. I'm almost to the point of thinking we should have compulsory service like some countries do - except I'm afraid as things are today it would turn the military into a kindergarten and detract people from the real mission.

 

[AM64]

My gawd you damn boomers don't even understand inflation.

You obviously hate workers. No doubt in my mind you have a deep disdain for workers making more money.

I'm all for capitalism, but the system we have right now is crony capitalism... or corporatism.

If you increase the cost of labor without a matching increase in productivity, it's inflationary. Same goes for any other costs such as energy. It's a dog chasing its tail, and nothing good comes from it. If you make $6 per hour one day and $7 the next for doing the same job, you just inflated the cost of what you produce. People realize the cost of goods has increased and it leads to a wage/price spiral, and somebody in China or Vietnam is eating your lunch. It's not difficult to understand.

 

[StarRaider]

Can't say I was as nuts as you, but I was burned out on school (junior at UT), so I quit school and enlisted in the Army. In 1967 if you didn't enlist, there was a good chance you'd be drafted, so you might as well semi control your destiny. I'm almost to the point of thinking we should have compulsory service like some countries do - except I'm afraid as things are today it would turn the military into a kindergarten and detract people from the real mission.

My brother volunteered for the Army about that time, MS Mech Eng & Torchbearer and went to VN with the 101st. I hated seeing the body counts on the news back then. Thank you for your service AM64

 

[AM64]

My brother volunteered for the Army about that time, MS Mech Eng & Torchbearer and went to VN with the 101st. I hated seeing the body counts on the news back then. Thank you for your service AM64

Thank you, but honestly when I was young the military seemed more like a right of passage - something you were supposed to do; I also admit I came from a military family. I've never considered the time I spent as either wasted or anything special; I guess to me it was a time when I learned a different set of skills, got away from school for a while, and became an adult. To me the pay was lousy - something like a bit over $300/mo as an E-5 and then maybe an extra $100 (?) proficiency pay for my MOS, but I felt that I got far more than the monetary compensation - didn't feel slighted on the pay issue.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

If you increase the cost of labor without a matching increase in productivity, it's inflationary. Same goes for any other costs such as energy. It's a dog chasing its tail, and nothing good comes from it. If you make $6 per hour one day and $7 the next for doing the same job, you just inflated the cost of what you produce. People realize the cost of goods has increased and it leads to a wage/price spiral, and somebody in China or Vietnam is eating your lunch. It's not difficult to understand.

Tell me. What has been more inflationary since 1986 when minimum wage was $3.35... wages or money printing?

 

[rekinhavoc]

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/04/22/are_we_led_by_foolish_people_895311.html

"What I’m trying to say is that when America tries to demand that all countries become democracies, we are saying that our own historical experience with democracy is more relevant than the historical experiences of Syria, Libya or wherever else. We are seeing this with the Biden Administration in Ukraine."

"I disagree with how the administration has framed the Ukraine War. For example, when James Baker III put together a coalition of three dozen countries to help eject Iraq from Kuwait, most of those countries were autocracies but James Baker didn’t care. There was enough of a common interest to work together but not a demand that everyone align totally on ideology. Now, we’ve framed the struggle in Ukraine as “democracy versus autocracy” and that is wrong. It should be framed as an invasion of a sovereign nation and a violation of the rules-based order."

"You have spent time with and around the military. What is one thing that is totally unique in history about the United States military?"

"The noncommissioned officer corps. We have the most competent and educated NCO corps of any military force in history. This does not mean they are intellectuals, but they are very capable and serious in their profession. The NCOs are what make the American military as great as it is. Russia and Ukraine do not have a professional NCO corps. The corporals, sergeants, and petty officers are the backbone of America’s military."

"What is the single greatest weakness of the United States military?"

"Hmm. I observe it more among the general officer corps. The general officer corps is sometimes asked to be strategic and understand the world beyond their capability. David Petraeus and Jim Stavridis understand the world, but many general officers are quite technocratic and bureaucratic. They are creatures of systems and lack the imagination to truly understand the world."

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

It should be framed as an invasion of a sovereign nation and a violation of the rules-based order."

The US/NATO don't hold the moral high ground to push that narrative. Libya, Serbia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria...

 

[rekinhavoc]

There Are Too Many Generals and Admirals, a Senator Stalling Military Promotions Argues

"Experts have known for more than a decade that the military is top heavy. We do not suffer from a lack of generals," Tuberville said. "When my dad served in World War II, we had one general for every 6,000 troops. Think about that: one for every 6,000. Now, we have one general for every 1,400 enlisted service members."


Promotions have become bribes.

 

[hog88]

There Are Too Many Generals and Admirals, a Senator Stalling Military Promotions Argues

"Experts have known for more than a decade that the military is top heavy. We do not suffer from a lack of generals," Tuberville said. "When my dad served in World War II, we had one general for every 6,000 troops. Think about that: one for every 6,000. Now, we have one general for every 1,400 enlisted service members."


Promotions have become bribes.

Politicians rewarding other politicians.

 

[Grand Vol]

Politicians rewarding other politicians.

In the USAF alone, Wings used to have Colonels commanding at least when I first came in. Most now have a Brigadier General.

Yes, it's become too top heavy.

 

[hog88]

In the USAF alone, Wings used to have Colonels commanding at least when I first came in. Most now have a Brigadier General.

Yes, it's become too top heavy.

In the AF and Naval aviation you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an officer so I guess they have to do something with them. I don't understand why it takes an O to fly a plane? They should have warrants doing most of the flying or hell, bring back the flying NCOs.

 

[Grand Vol]

In the AF and Naval aviation you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an officer so I guess they have to do something with them. I don't understand why it takes an O to fly a plane? They should have warrants doing most of the flying or hell, bring back the flying NCOs.

It's been discussed from time to time, but the same thing comes back each and every time...

Four year degree.

In the case, might as well be an officer and get paid for it.

 

[hog88]

It's been discussed from time to time, but the same thing comes back each and every time...

Four year degree.

In the case, might as well be an officer and get paid for it.

I get that. But it's still dumb, free from the burden of pursuing a command and political ass kissing warrants make the best pilots. I always felt better when I knew there was a W-3/4 as PIC.

 

[NEO]

Tell me. What has been more inflationary since 1986 when minimum wage was $3.35... wages or money printing?

Due to a world economy, this topic is so convoluted and complex it would require an entire thread and hundreds of pages. We came off gold. We passed nafta. We began over spending at a rapid rate. We moved the ss funds into the general fund. We fought wars to keep the Petro dollar in place. We crushed the manufacturing sector of our country and left millions of non college students without a career path where they could actually make a living wage and replaced those jobs with Walmart and service sector. We killed the service sector with e commerce. We shut the country down and then funded the shut down with stimulus. And we are currently trying to take away our energy dependence and rely on ev tech which comes from China.

There are so many what the f are we doing in the past three decades that it’s amazing this country hasn’t collapsed yet like Argentina.

 

[Grand Vol]

I get that. But it's still dumb, free from the burden of pursuing a command and political ass kissing warrants make the best pilots. I always felt better when I knew there was a W-3/4 as PIC.

Well, the USAF is also stupid in that regard as well. Instead of letting someone do nothing more than fly aircraf lt for 20 years, they put them out when they don't get promoted. Or get advanced degrees. Or whatever reason.

 

[hog88]

Well, the USAF is also stupid in that regard as well. Instead of letting someone do nothing more than fly aircraf lt for 20 years, they put them out when they don't get promoted. Or get advanced degrees. Or whatever reason.

Perfect military logic, kick a guy out that's great at his job because he doesn't want to or can't do the next level higher.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Due to a world economy, this topic is so convoluted and complex it would require an entire thread and hundreds of pages. We came off gold. We passed nafta. We began over spending at a rapid rate. We moved the ss funds into the general fund. We fought wars to keep the Petro dollar in place. We crushed the manufacturing sector of our country and left millions of non college students without a career path where they could actually make a living wage and replaced those jobs with Walmart and service sector. We killed the service sector with e commerce. We shut the country down and then funded the shut down with stimulus. And we are currently trying to take away our energy dependence and rely on ev tech which comes from China.

There are so many what the f are we doing in the past three decades that it’s amazing this country hasn’t collapsed yet like Argentina.

Most of the items you mentioned were related to either wage killing or money printing.

NAFTA - wage killing
Overspending - money printing
Petrodollar wars - protecting the money printing racket
Crushing manufacturing sector - wage killing
Walmart/service sector jobs - wage killing
C-19 lockdowns and stimulus checks - money printing

So anyone placing the blame on wages being too high really isn't credible. Sure in nominal terms, wages have increased since 1986. But do today's wages have the same purchasing power.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

In less than 40 years we've managed to drive it exponentially to where unskilled jobs are flirting with $15/hr, and goods are commensurately higher. We've just priced ourselves out of the world labor market, insured the balance of trade will never be flipped in our favor, decreased participation in the job market, and a lot of people are happy as pigs in slop because they have absolutely no idea what it all means. Inflation is an economy killer, and it's working like a charm.

We have been priced out of the world labor market for decades. Why do you think everything is made in China/Vietnam/Pakistan/Mexico/etc/etc/etc?

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Well, the USAF is also stupid in that regard as well. Instead of letting someone do nothing more than fly aircraf lt for 20 years, they put them out when they don't get promoted. Or get advanced degrees. Or whatever reason.

Same with the Navy. The vast majority of pilots in the Navy want to fly airplanes. That's it. But you are saddled with ancillary jobs and expected to progress along a command track in order to be CO of.... something. Most of us got out because the airlines are/were hiring and we didn't want to go fly a desk at the Pentagon or something similar.

The Navy had a program once where you could sign on and you would be guaranteed to always get a set of flying orders and never advance past O4, and never be in command of anything. They had to close it in less than a year because so many guys jumped on it.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Perfect military logic, kick a guy out that's great at his job because he doesn't want to or can't do the next level higher.

That's the federal .gov for you. They force airline pilots out at 65 for no good reason either. Just for reference, and I might have said this before, each airline in the USA is 'retiring' 10 MILLION flight hours of experience EVERY YEAR for the next 10+ years, just because they turn 65. We have to pass 2 simulator checks every year as well as 2 flight physicals... but turning 65 somehow makes us all unsafe.

Oops... time to go to the gym.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

In less than 40 years we've managed to drive it exponentially to where unskilled jobs are flirting with $15/hr, and goods are commensurately higher. We've just priced ourselves out of the world labor market, insured the balance of trade will never be flipped in our favor, decreased participation in the job market, and a lot of people are happy as pigs in slop because they have absolutely no idea what it all means. Inflation is an economy killer, and it's working like a charm.

Labor/wages isn't killing the economy.

And does $15/hr now have the same purchasing power as minimum wage did 40 years ago?

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Labor/wages isn't killing the economy.

And does $15/hr now have the same purchasing power as minimum wage did 40 years ago?

$15/hour jobs are not the same kind of jobs that must be competitive with the world market. It is the high paying manufacturing jobs where an American is making more in a day than the foreign worker does in a month. Fry slingers are not relevant benchmarks to any of this discussion.