Strike The Root Blog

Chesley B. (”Sully”) Sullenberger is a god.

Seriously. If I were to run into the guy on the street tomorrow, I would simply be in awe of his presence. That’s because Sullenberger actually crash landed a malfunctioning U.S. Airways jet on the Hudson friggin’ River and nobody was seriously injured. That is just positively amazing. It’s one of those achievements that should stand as a glaring reminder to the rest of us as to what human beings can really accomplish. That act was nothing less than the culmination of many years of intense focus, careful study and much mastering of some very tricky technical skills. Just amazing.

It’s interesting, though, that I hear so many people around me mention his experience as an F-4 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. The upshot of these conversations is thank the gods for “our” military, so that people can learn such highly valued, life-saving skills. The irony never seems to dawn on these people that the mission of the armed forces is to destroy human life, whereas Sullenberger preserved human life.

But they also seem to forget that Sullenberger has been flying commercial airliners since about 1980, whereas he spent only six years in the Air Force. Why jump to the conclusion that what Sullenberger was able to do yesterday must have come from his military experience, rather than from his more numerous years as a commercial airline pilot?

And why this assumption that only the military could provide the kind of training needed to fly airplanes so skillfully? It’s true that many military pilots take their flying experience into the commercial airline industry. But surely if there was no military at all, that does not mean that we would all be doomed to flying in planes piloted by incompetents. There’s no reason to doubt that some of the billions and billions of dollars that would be spared from “national defense” each year would instead be spent by the airline industry itself, or currently existing flight schools, on continuously improving pilot training and education.

Interestingly, Sullenberger is the founder of a business that provides “technical expertise and strategic vision and direction to improve safety and reliability in a variety of high risk industries.” Sullenberger’s actions yesterday demonstrate that highly skilled individuals offering their technical expertise in the marketplace in pursuit of their own personal gain—rather than myriad bureaucrats and their rules and regulations—are the most effective at keeping people safe in potentially dangerous situations.

(Cross-posted at The Postmodern Tribune.)

Not everyone is onboard with the American Empire:

Who will the Orcs vote for? More power for Mordor, to be sure:

State flags make good snot rags:

Blood stains- the calling card of the US Crusaders:

Doin’ what they do best- hands in pocket, feet comfortably apart:

Sheep always listen carefully and do as they’re told:

The list is long for victims of the voting gang wars:

Wrap thy young in the cocoon of death….

….and never forget- Country, not your children, First:

“Are you a capitalist?” One day closer to Apocrypha Obamolies:

Will crossover voters play a part….

….in the “advance auction of stolen goods?”

State initiated violence keeps peaceful individuals on the move:

One crusader is thankful he’s not injured.  If only he could change his species:

The state’s need to regulate is never quenched….

….nor is its thirst for blood:

Is Jo Mac’s campaign in the toilet?

Just in case the election doesn’t work out, Sarah has a back up plan:

Safer ballots than electronic:

Hide your crimes by encouraging others to read goofy books:

Any sweet, moving stories about dropping bombs on women and children?

Watch JoMac say “thumbs up” to socialism:

Watch Jo Mac have an identity crisis:

Running a con is so much more fun when done with a loved one:

The new War Wench seeks counsel from a killing expert:

Headed for the dumpster of obsolete symbols?

Take comfort, Johnny Law will dry your tears:

“Now I know the secret; there is nothing that I lack.
If I give my love to you, you’ll surely give it back.
Let it rain, Let it rain…..”

….Or is a just God pissing on, still another, false messiah:

Congress takes a close look at Bush’s bailout plan….

….and responds to the corrupt, evil minds that created it:

The Emperor and his henchmen walk away empty handed….

….But with a little sweetening (and apocalyptic warnings), the plutocrats succeed with Bailout 2.0:

Love that plastic:

It appears the American sheep are all onboard, waiting to be fleeced:

Tough economic times require looking at alternatives:

Clueless Joe vs. The War Wench. Another good reason to dump television….

….and keep an eye on your assets:

The state gets angry….

….when its subjects fight back….

….by returning fire:

A lesson for the kids- Leviathan gobbles up taxpayers:

The state aims to create more warring robots….

….rather than tactful peacemakers:

Gustav takes the French Quarter for a ride……

….and gives another chance for the road fascists to shine:

US Crusaders find a new beat to walk….

….and gather the sheep to explain the rules:

Looking to have a quiet, peaceful dinner?….

….while watching your liberties flushed down the sewer?

Let nothing block the path….

….of making eye contact with your adversaries:

An obvious provocation….

….deserving of pepper spray:

The Paulians know what this all about:

Stay on message- Rudy and crew continue promoting 911 hobgoblins:

The Afghan killing fields continue to be productive:

Monster in the house. Someone please page J.W. Boothe:

Hey Hillary! There’s a new War Wench in town:

“Yes, I foresee more war, more death, more scars upon the land. Glory Be!”

Tears shed in awe of the New Messiah:

Why not vote with your feet….

….rather than playing with fire?

Always make sure it’s a friend, not foe, that’s got your back covered:

A job well done- more of the world lies in ruins:

Just one guard for all that ganja?

Everywhere state gangsters gather, the smell of death permeates the air:

Johnny Law is always looking for a reason to show force, keep others in line, and shed blood:

I guess we better start buildding- then work on that sppelling:

Exhaustion is the cost of fighting the war mongers:

Obama flip-flops. A sign of things to come?

Waiting for Gustav:

No holiday for US Crusaders as they protect us from illicit posters on the other side of the world:

The state’s legitimacy is directly proportional to the force it projects:

I absolutely cannot believe that I totally forgot the terrible significance of this day. I feel like such an ass for not giving it a single thought until now, as the sun begins to set on me and my neighbors.

But now that I’ve been reminded, I’ll be thinking about those hundreds of thousands of people slaughtered in cold blood. The mothers. The fathers. The children. All of them–total strangers though they were, who lived long before my time–are on my mind right now.

Nobody in this country should ever forget what this day means. Nobody. Ever.

Nobody.

Ever.

Stout looking sperm, I must say. But can these boys swim?

It’s ultimately up to each individual to escape his own, singular prison:

Staying medicated is for the cowardly……

….. but the Pentagon sees it as the most effective method for keeping The Troops in fighting shape:

Behold His mighty hand!  A futile attempt to part the waters:

JoMac is all smiles at the prospect of more dead Americans to help his campaign:

It takes more than large scale symbolism to create peace:

Strike the root by striking TV (Tranquilizing Vector) from your daily life:

Don’t think of it as a bomb crater. Think of it as “nation building:”

May I suggest one more (appropriate) monument in Washington?

Once a frat boy……

…….always a frat boy:

Even Chelsea is stunned by the huge debt:

Moms get their kids back…….but not without a lot of state baggage:

Neocon kooks terrorize the fashion world……

….but “terrorist adornment” surely is not as offensive as Fashion for Peace:

Certainly a more productive and peaceful pursuit than being president:

Rolling Blunder- Maybe these motorcycle Viet-Vets have been inhaling too much CO:

The half-billlion dollar discovery by NASA- there are rocks on Mars:

Some of the last people remaining with “total autonomy:”

Room for another head? Time for the dead white guys to move over for The Anointed One:

A trail of blood……..

…..that leads to:

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,

Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.

And when the band plays hail to the chief,

Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.

It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh.

But when the taxman comes to the door,

Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.

It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,

Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,

And when you ask them, how much should we give?

Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.

It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one.

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate one, no no no,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate son, no no no,

(Taken from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” lyrics by John Fogerty).

The Supreme Warlord of the Earth takes a ride on his chariot.  Will he now sacrifice this joy in solidarity with the troops?:

Jo Mac is sensing a “lack of confidence” among the empire’s subjects:

Just how many commodes will it take to finally flush the state?

Can’t you just feel the love?

The NAACP get a new prez. But is he “colored” enough?

Business is looking slow for the salvation brokers:

Who has more class- lovers of peace or the war freaks?

The jack boot is updated to accommodate the metro and trans-sexuals:

Maybe Fusionman will rescue us:

The essence of marriage- the ol’ Ball and Chain:

The Emperor greets the one man he dare not boss: