Fishermen receiving FREE governement benefits

[HiDefFisherman]

OK, I know this will ruffle a few feathers, and not trying to start a fight, but want to open people's minds on some things.

There have been a lot of posts about people getting government benefits, and how bad this is. Some call it socialism, some call it even worse... if there is anything worse... LOL

But I was watching a show about physics on the science channel this morning around 4 a.m. I know, I probably need to get a life. But anyway, part of the segment that caught my eye was talking about the Einstein General theory of relativity, and specifically how it extrapolates to the way gravity affects the passage of time.

Now I am not going to try to explain this, mostly because I don't know it well enough to teach it, and have a tenuous understanding of the theory myself.

But this led to the discussion of the GPS system. They were talking about the constant adjustments that had to be made to the clocks on the satellites to keep them in time with earth bound clocks. They took the cameras to a high security air force base, that has no runways (just a little note I found interesting). They talked with one of the airmen in charge and he was saying that civilian use was of no concern to him. His primary reason for being there was WAR, pure and simple, the direction of bombs, missels, and service men on the ground. He did say civilian use was secondary.

Here's the rub, most of us have GPS units. This means we are getting a very, very expensive benefit "Given" to us by the government.

I personally believe the government could sell subscriptions to the service, and recoup much of the cost that the government is out for keeping this service up and running.

Not so bad thinking about people who get government handouts now, huh??

Tight lines....

HDF

[lil skeeter]

im not very knowledgable whent it comes to all this political stuff, but dont some of the taxes that we pay go to the military to be able to buy that technology? i really wouldnt call it a handout. more of a privilage than anything. correct me if im wrong

[RoadToad]

How is this a handout? Our taxes pay for it. Wouldn't a usage fee on top of that be a double dip?

OK, so we're providing it free to everybody, not just US interests. But isn't the fact that it's the USA providing this service part of what makes ours the greatest country on the planet?

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/default.htm

[Tom523]

OK, I know this will ruffle a few feathers, and not trying to start a fight, but want to open people's minds on some things.

There have been a lot of posts about people getting government benefits, and how bad this is. Some call it socialism, some call it even worse... if there is anything worse... LOL

But I was watching a show about physics on the science channel this morning around 4 a.m. I know, I probably need to get a life. But anyway, part of the segment that caught my eye was talking about the Einstein General theory of relativity, and specifically how it extrapolates to the way gravity affects the passage of time.

Now I am not going to try to explain this, mostly because I don't know it well enough to teach it, and have a tenuous understanding of the theory myself.

But this led to the discussion of the GPS system. They were talking about the constant adjustments that had to be made to the clocks on the satellites to keep them in time with earth bound clocks. They took the cameras to a high security air force base, that has no runways (just a little note I found interesting). They talked with one of the airmen in charge and he was saying that civilian use was of no concern to him. His primary reason for being there was WAR, pure and simple, the direction of bombs, missels, and service men on the ground. He did say civilian use was secondary.

Here's the rub, most of us have GPS units. This means we are getting a very, very expensive benefit "Given" to us by the government.

I personally believe the government could sell subscriptions to the service, and recoup much of the cost that the government is out for keeping this service up and running.

Not so bad thinking about people who get government handouts now, huh??

Tight lines....

HDF

Everyone in the world uses the sattelites that are used for GPS. The military has an iencrypted signal for use in wartime. Both signals run side by side. It's the receiver that you use with special decryption keys that are the most accurate. Ships at sea all over the world use those satellites to navigate. Our taxes are paying for them, but also they are paying for roads an bridges so it's not a handout. Subscription would not be necessary or wanted. It would be like paying for FM radio signals.

[greenriverman1]

HIDEF do you live in washington? If not there might just be a job for you there. LOL.

DA

[Devils Horse]

I saw a blurb somewhere about the GPS satellites. It said many of them are 20-30 years old, becoming more unreliable, and they'd be failing soon. Also said the government was doing nothing to replace them.

Hard to understand your mindset Hidef, but hang loose, some serious usage fees are coming your way in the form of taxes.

[HiDefFisherman]

LMAO... you guys amaze me.

You say you "pay" for the benefit. Hey, you would be paying those taxes anyway. The taxes are paid so our government can provide us national security, and no that does not necessarily mean only armed services. It applies to all that the government does for the country. yes I agree some of it is Bull C. (can't use that second word here *smile*)

Come on guys be honest... I get the same benefit. I use the GPS as well.

WE get to use the government's service, even though it was not meant for us. They are GIVING us access, and not charging us anything extra.

DH, in watching the physics show I was watching, they did not address the age of the satellites, but man, you make a good point as to why we should pay access. They could help offset the cost of the satellite replacements...LOL I know that is not what you were going for... just haning loose.... LMAO

Man, a lot of you guys are way to uptight about this.

The fact is, it is OK to accept benefits from our government. That is why they are there, to help keep us protected and to provide for the good of the citizens.

Now granted, I personally believe that government has gotten too big, and way to intrusive.

Tight lines fellow fishermen, and don't get too uptight about the truth, LOL

HDF

[Devils Horse]

LMAO... you guys amaze me.

You say you "pay" for the benefit. Hey, you would be paying those taxes anyway. The taxes are paid so our government can provide us national security, and no that does not necessarily mean only armed services. It applies to all that the government does for the country. yes I agree some of it is Bull C. (can't use that second word here *smile*)

Come on guys be honest... I get the same benefit. I use the GPS as well.

WE get to use the government's service, even though it was not meant for us. They are GIVING us access, and not charging us anything extra.

DH, in watching the physics show I was watching, they did not address the age of the satellites, but man, you make a good point as to why we should pay access. They could help offset the cost of the satellite replacements...LOL I know that is not what you were going for... just haning loose.... LMAO

Man, a lot of you guys are way to uptight about this.

The fact is, it is OK to accept benefits from our government. That is why they are there, to help keep us protected and to provide for the good of the citizens.

Now granted, I personally believe that government has gotten too big, and way to intrusive.

Tight lines fellow fishermen, and don't get too uptight about the truth, LOL

HDF

Not uptight about this at all, but here's an idea. You go ahead and get the ball rolling. Send your $200 annual GPS usage fee to the federal GAO, and see if your idea catches on. Be sure and put "For GPS signals" in the memo field of your check. Let us know how it comes out. Okay?

[DJD]

LMAO... you guys amaze me.

You say you "pay" for the benefit. Hey, you would be paying those taxes anyway. The taxes are paid so our government can provide us national security, and no that does not necessarily mean only armed services. It applies to all that the government does for the country. yes I agree some of it is Bull C. (can't use that second word here *smile*)

Come on guys be honest... I get the same benefit. I use the GPS as well.

WE get to use the government's service, even though it was not meant for us. They are GIVING us access, and not charging us anything extra.

DH, in watching the physics show I was watching, they did not address the age of the satellites, but man, you make a good point as to why we should pay access. They could help offset the cost of the satellite replacements...LOL I know that is not what you were going for... just haning loose.... LMAO

Man, a lot of you guys are way to uptight about this.

The fact is, it is OK to accept benefits from our government. That is why they are there, to help keep us protected and to provide for the good of the citizens.

Now granted, I personally believe that government has gotten too big, and way to intrusive.

Tight lines fellow fishermen, and don't get too uptight about the truth, LOL

HDF

Are you really comparing this to gubment handouts? Meaning bailouts to the auto industry, cash for clunkers and whatever else you see as a bailout? I don't see it...

I don't have a GPS but if I did want one the gubment wouldn't give me one would they? I would buy it and pay taxes on it. I'm not a business who went bankrupt I am choosing to buy a product. How am I getting lumped in with gubment handouts? Yeah, they provide a service to anyone who wants to pay to use it.

I think thats a far stretch in comparisons....

[HiDefFisherman]

Are you really comparing this to gubment handouts? Meaning bailouts to the auto industry, cash for clunkers and whatever else you see as a bailout? I don't see it...

I don't have a GPS but if I did want one the gubment wouldn't give me one would they? I would buy it and pay taxes on it. I'm not a business who went bankrupt I am choosing to buy a product. How am I getting lumped in with gubment handouts? Yeah, they provide a service to anyone who wants to pay to use it.

I think thats a far stretch in comparisons....

No DJ, not comparing it to the bailouts. Sorry, I apprently failed to communicate my intent to you properly. I was posting this in regard to those who are hating on those people who have had to go on disability or some other program from the government. They post as if they get nothing, and anyone who does is scum. Maybe it is just that I misinturprut their meanings.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I don't have a GPS, and don't use the service provided by the govt.

Does somebody owe me a rebate?

[GeoFisher]

I saw a blurb somewhere about the GPS satellites. It said many of them are 20-30 years old, becoming more unreliable, and they'd be failing soon. Also said the government was doing nothing to replace them.

Hard to understand your mindset Hidef, but hang loose, some serious usage fees are coming your way in the form of taxes.

This is from someone who is an "expert" in the field of GPS......

The GPS constellation needs a minimum of 24 satellites to give full earth coverage. There are 32 currently on orbit. The GPSIIIA satellite has very little of advantage of civilian users, and extremely little (maybe no) advantage for hand-held users (it's been a few years since I looked at the specs). Yes, the IIIA satellites are delayed, but an expanded constellation of version II satellites are up, healthy, and fully operational.

Lots of commotion but not much substance. Makes a good scare story though. For the real scoop see http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gpscurr.html and http://www.navcen.uscg.gov./

Her credentials:

I work as a program manager for an aerospace company that just happens to make more military GPS units than anyone else in the world. I was lucky enough to manage a military GPS program for 4years and picked up some knowledge. I now am a program manager on a military satellite communications program. Note that my engineers would definitely take exception to the belief that I know lots of the technology LOL!!! The engineers are the real Rocket Scientists!

Being trained as a scientist and then working as an engineer and managing engineering work, I get really frustrated with the popular press that paint scientific doom and gloom just to make a story.

BTW: I tried to post this last night from my blackberry, but I guess it disappeared into the ether.


Later,

Geo