Wasting money is one thing that really gets me steamed…especially when it’s the govamint doin’ the wastin’ and it’s our tax dolla’s that are a gittin’ wasted!
Take the U.S. Navy research submarine Dolphin. A real workhorse for 44 years, the Dolphin scored a series of “firsts” including:
• Deepest submarine dive (this excludes those specially-made underwater vehicles designed specifically to descend to wrecks like the Titanic, etc.)
• Deepest launching of a live torpedo ever
• Use of lasers for communications
• First to send an email while underwater
The boat (as subs are called) was still in daily use when it nearly sank in 2002, a tragedy narrowly avoided only by the heroic actions of its 55-member crew. Now, saltwater and sophisticated (or even unsophisticated for that matter) electronics don’t mix and the navy spent $50 million and four years to get the Dolphin back into shipshape condition.
So what’s my steam up about?
After having all that money spent on her overhaul and upgrade and back in operation for only 8 months, the USS Dolphin was de-comissioned! That’s $6.25 million per month. What’s more, the top brass decided to tow her to Hawaii and sink her. Are you kidding? Who are the brainiacs behind this decision? Probably the same crew that dumped a gazillion dollars on upgrading one of our bravest battleships, the USS Missouri, then giving her the boot when she could be out kicking butt!
In the end, the Dolphin is now a $50 million museum piece.
I’m all for a strong U.S. military. But our armed forces could be so much more stronger (with less load on the shoulders of the taxpayers) if the money was being spent wisely. Nuff said!
