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  10 2 Their haircuts. Fnarf answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  7 0 That I'm not in the plane. At least once. Pleeeeeeeease! I know I'll vomit but I really really really want to do it anyway. Tom answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  11 5 I hate that anger towards them sprouts Seattle-area anti-military ignorance. I understand that their noise and traffic disruption is inconvenient, but I grow tired of hearing people take it is a prompt to hate on the military. Especially people who have no idea how important the military is to Seattle's prosperity. Do you have any idea what the economy would be like in this region without the military? Greater Seattle has six major military bases. SIX. Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Naval Station Everett, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap, and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station alone directly and through contractors employ over 100,000 people. Also, don't forget all of the ancillary jobs that these military jobs support. For every one servicemember or contractor stationed in the Puget Sound region, there is at least one other person, be it a bus driver, school teacher, bartender, mechanic, or whatever, who has a job because there are soldiers, sailors and airmen stationed in our communities who need their buses driven, their kids taught, their drinks poured and their cars fixed. Not to mention the billions of dollars, yes that's BILLIONS with a "B" that Boeing brings to Seattle thanks to their defense contracts. Ditto for the millions of dollars in research grants our universities get to support defense-related activities. Like it or not, you live in one of the most heavily militarized economic regions on this planet. Seattle and the Puget Sound region owe more of our prosperity to the US military's presence here than any other factor, save perhaps, the low cost carbon-neutral electricity provided by publicly-owned hydoelectric dams that provides the power that built our region's modern manufacturing and information economy. Funny thing about our electricity though, most of those dams that supply the power the power to run our modern information economy were actually built and are run by the US Army Corps of Engineers. So, if you work at Amazon, Microsoft, or anyplace that uses electricity in this region, you can thank the military for that too. Without the military's economic input to our community, Seattle would be Cleveland or Detroit. There used to be a sign at the gates of NAS Whidbey apologizing for the loud jets, it read: "Pardon our noise, that's the sound of freedom." I don't think that quite does it justice around here. More like: "Pardon our noise, that's the sound of Seattle's economic prosperity." I understand you hate the Blue Angels. Just do a little research on the economic impact the military has on our community if you're going to extend the anti-Blue Angel argument into an anti-military rant. To be clear, I am NOT saying that's what you did. But people do. And THAT'S what I hate most about the Blue Angels. Cheers soundslikepuget answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report 15 comments by Basil, soundslikepuget, and The StainMaster… 4 6 I've literally never met a single person who use the blue angels as a prompt to hate on the military. And I surround myself with a lot of raging liberals. I mostly get annoyed at them for waking me up in the middle of the afternoon. Basil commented 9 months ago | Report 5 4 Isn't that wonderful for you. I hear this shit every year. Those jets go overhead and people start in on tirades about how they have no place in "a peaceful city like Seattle." I feel my response is reasoned, fact-based, and evenhanded and I can't hear you over the sound of how AWESOME I am (or maybe that's the Blue Angels noise too) soundslikepuget commented 9 months ago | Report 0 3 "Do you have any idea what the economy would be like in this region without the military? Greater Seattle has six major military bases. SIX. Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Naval Station Everett, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap, and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station alone directly and through contractors employ over 100,000 people" I dont see how the military ecosystem you speak of has anything to do with Seattle proper, I'd say it exists in areas like Tacoma, Lakewood and Bermerton. The utopia of Seattle that everyone likes so much, is propped up mostly by tech industry, what I'm saying is I dont think Seattle proper would be affected by the loss of military bases as you have suggested. I also think it more likely the military presence keeps its direct ecosystem outside of the Seattle areas which most people consider to be "nice" because they can not afford to live there, and how many people who live in, say Capitol Hill are making a living that is directly conected to the military? The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 2 3 Also, I would love to see military expenses cut back and the funds usedfor medical and education in our own country. I'd like bases shut down and withdrawl from the middle east. The peeps who work for the military and the military ecosystem can find other employment without getting blood on their hands in the process. What do you think about that? The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 2 2 I know people who live on Capitol Hill and work on defense contracts for Boeing. But more importantly, do you really think that Seattle proper is that divorced from the region as a whole? If the Puget Sound region lost the entire military presence, unemployment would go through the roof region-wide. In 2004, King County businesses sold more than $174 million to businesses statewide http://www.ofm.wa.gov/economy/military/military.pdf 42% of the military contracts issued to in-state firms in that same year were to King County businesses. The well-being of Seattle's economy is far more dependent on being part of a thriving region than your vision posits. The "creative class" and high tech jobs of the (stereotypical) Capitol Hill type crowd are but a small fraction of what makes the City of Seattle, and the region, really hum. Important they are, yes, but the be all, end all that you suggest they are, no. I stand by my assertion that Seattle's economy, yes SEATTLE PROPER'S economy is critically dependent on the military's investment in the region for continued sustainability. There are 187,900 jobs in this state directly dependent on the military. Seattle is no island. You subtract 187,900 jobs from the region, the city will suffer. I challenge you to show me a city that is thriving in the midst of a region that is economically crippled. Like it or not, we're all in this boat together, and the military is helping keep it steadily afloat. soundslikepuget commented 9 months ago | Report 1 2 Yes, I dont like the fact that our faltering economy is being held up in some ways by the millitary machine.. I think it was a big mistake that we will and are paying dearly for. Now looking at things on an international level, how much is military investment (on a comparitive scale to US military spending) a determining factor on quality of living for regular joes like you and me? Thats one of the things that I cant seem to stop thinking about, what do you think of that? Yeah, I do think Seattle proper is different in terms of income levels then most of the region.. The contrast in the price of real estate in similar neighborhoods is probably one of the most obvious indicators of this. People pay alot more for land and home in a comparable middle/uppermiddle seattle neighborhood then the Tacoma/Lakewood/Bermerton military area people do. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 0 1 Also, average wages by county could help narrow things down. It's higher in king county by quite a bit, there are no military bases in king country that I know of. You have boeing though, right? The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 "The well-being of Seattle's economy is far more dependent on being part of a thriving region than your vision posits" I don't know how high up on the food chain your military friends on the hill are, but I hardly think of the military as making the majority of the people involved with it as "thriving". From what I understand, a military base produces an ecosystem directly around it (not 60mi north next to microsoft) which is not exactly poor, but fairly close. Can you prove otherwise? BTW I'm glad the core of engineers helped to build some of our core infrastructure, most of that was some time ago and and things have changed somewhat since then in terms of how useful they are now. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 If I were to look past the politics, job creation and other layers to view the core of what good our massive military system produces and what bad comes out of it.. I believe that I would come to the conclusion that I don't like our bloated military culture and I would like to see spending significantly reduced to sane levels that match other nations which have higher standards of living. Am I naive for thinking this is possible? The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 I read your stuff a few times now and I'm really starting to think that your perspective on just what the military provides for the majority of the people involved with it is extremely narrow. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 As you've shown, there are defense contractors who are doing pretty well, but I think there are far more people who are or were in the service who are not doing so hot financially and otherwise. People don't usually join up because they had a high end education or came from a family with pleanty of resources, often they return home with mental problems, ptsd and alcoholism, why? maybe because they know deep inside that they participated and were misled into something that was fundamentally wrong. Thanks to our nations efforts on exponential growth for military spending and continued education cuts, the system should continue to cycle like any grand scam should. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 Not to mention that our military often kills "the enemy" for reasons that I sometimes discover to be morally foggy or just blatantly wrong in ways that disturb me deeply. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 0 Stainmaster, I'm not going to go through your SEVEN posts one by one, it's a short day and a big country and it's not worth my time. I will say the following: 1) Your electricity still largely comes from dams operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Today. They didn't just construct them. They operate them. 2) I'm not talking about the individual salaries of enlisted personnel in the base communities. I'm talking about the billions upon billions of dollars the military pumps into this region in aggregate totals, salaries, contracts, purchasing, secondary economic impacts. BILLIONS. 3) It's clear you don't like the military. And THIS, is why I hate the Blue Angels, because THEIR PRESENCE LAUNCHES PEOPLE LIKE YOU ON TIRADES LIKE THIS. GOOD DAY SIR soundslikepuget commented 9 months ago | Report 1 3 1) I'm not convinced by your "facts" the .pdf financial document you provided is unconvincing to me, where did you get it? I think you are blowing a bit of smoke in some areas. 2) I hardly notice the Blue Angels, I spent most my life in close proximity to McCord air force base and the sound of jets is normal to me. Your posts are the reason for my "tirade" sorry if you dont like my opinions, I thought I was making fairly respectful conversation, hardly a tirade. 3) No, I still dont agree with your definition of the Engineer corps. They are part of the machine and were once a big deal, sure, but these days mostly just a bunch of project managers used as a tool by politicians to get projects and win bids for contractors who contribute to their campaigns. Cheers The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report 1 1 Maybe we should just put another military base within Seattle city limits since it helps out the economy so well? I promise you that real estate would go down all around the base, it would look just like Aurora ave. and create an ecosystem hovering somewhere close to the poverty line. The people who are just surviving off the military presence outnumber your better off defense contractor buddies on the hill. NOT WORTH IT IN SO MANY WAYS. The StainMaster commented 9 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  5 0 Soundslikepuget's answer is really well-reasoned and interesting. I never would have thought of it. That said, I used to live in a building with a Vietnam vet. Every time the Blue Angels came a'calling he would have to hunker down and drink himself senseless because the noise scared the shit out of him. Go USA! P.S. Cat and dogs hate them too. Misty Brown answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  5 1 Screwing up traffic. emily answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  5 3 Their pollution, ear drum killing roar and pointless shows of machismo. Seriously, fighter planes perform cool tricks? I don't give a flying fuck, I hope it doesn't come of the federal budget. Finger Games answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report 1 comment by keshmeshi… 5 1 I'm pretty sure it does, but, to be fair, it's a drop in the bucket of the military industrial complex. It's still better that the Feds pay for it than the city or state. keshmeshi commented 9 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 As the spirit on the eagle that was recently killed on the 520, I don't like the noise and the disruption of the sky. When the B. Angels are flying it's insanity for us birds. It's pretty traumatic. Listen and watch for birds in the 30 minutes after the Blue Angels are done and you will see what I'm talking about I know that you humans want to be as bad-ass as us, but get over it. Perhaps you should figure out how to drive on the earth/over Lake Washington without murdering those of us who naturally belong there, before you take over our territory in the sky. ThatEagleonthe520 answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 That they scare my dogs so badly. owlish answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 I don't mind the hardons of pro-war folk. I don't really mind the noise. Traffic happens, so what's a little more. Pollution? Better to form a picket line at SeaTac's 24/7 operation than gripe about these once-yearly joyrides. The waste of fuel for aeronautic displays is just Theatre, and more artistic and impressive theatre than NASCAR which is essentially a similar operation. I don't care about the wild tangents of what money "the military" brings in, since the military is simply our government, and our government is us. So, WE're spending OUR own money: shocking surprise there. There's no US or THEM to be had in that argument. I just hate that they're called "Angels". RacerX answered in Whatever 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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