Comments here
It’s too bad he didn’t steal a smaller, less expensive, more survivable plane like a CR22. Might have been able to fly it more easily and then pull the parachute and minimize the damage to himself and everyone else.
Not that I think the quoted argument from the Telegraph holds any water, but I believe the reason behind it is xenophobia, plain and simple. They want people to be more afraid of terrorism, and so more inclined to an insular, anti-immigrant, pro-Brexit viewpoint. (The Telegraph, for reference, is usually pretty closely tied to the views of the right side of the ruling Conservative party.)
Given that the US only lets you cross the road at prescribed locations, I find much of the characterisation of European governments as nanny states I see from Americans to be a bit confusing. I know it’s a standard narrative, but I don’t really understand where it comes from originally, beyond a desire to discredit some of the more socialist European policies like social security.
I think that is certainly interweaved in the Telegraph’s take, though I think it has more to do with a generalized, paternalistic Europeam/British view of the United States as an inhreantly unsafe wilderness. Filled with dangerous people. Hence my annoyance at the comment. I wasn’t going to alluding to or preambleing to have a European Socialist “nanny state” debate because this isn’t P & R. ;)
Context: The Blue Angels were in Seattle the weekend before Rich took flight last Friday. Someone posted this on the Seattle subreddit.
Also, he’s become something of a folk legend. RIP, Rich.
If Rich could have done that, I totally believe he would have.
Grabbing a Blue Angels jet probably proved problematic.
And he likely would have died much more quickly.
o7 Rich
For a moment there…
