It appears to be politics as usual in Washington.  The Republican minority is busy spreading fear -- this time about healthcare reform; while the Democratic majority infights and spreads indecisiveness.  Many uninsured voters like myself believed in the pledges of Democrats to fix the healthcare woes of this country.  I certainly do realize that Washington politicians have all of the healthcare coverage they'll ever need.  Consequently, when poor uninsured  people in Iowa, or Illinois, or Texas, or Ohio, or in any number of other states die, politicians don't bat an eye.  It's just one more dead poor person who'll be replaced by the next crop of newly enfranchised 18 year-olds.  However,  the remainder of us living sick can and will revolt -- at the polls!

People are dying daily in America, and politicians treat the issue like a political football to be used for media sound bites.  This whole issue is very personal to me.  Last week I lost a major piece of my healthcare when a program stopped being funded by the State of Illinois.  So, actually politicians on the state level are playing politics as usual just as much as those in Washington.  This is sick!!!   Since the majority in the House and the Senate are Democrats, the vast majority of the blame for the holdup in reform lies with them.  All I can say is you're in power now Democratic Party, but it doesn't have to stay that way.  Keep playing politics with my life and the lives of millions of other uninsured Americans and see what you get in return at the ballot box during upcoming elections.  Heed my warning and act to save Americans, or don't and lose power...the choice is yours!

Full Story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32174687/ns/politics-capitol_hill/ 

This seems to be a very good time to be a fighter jet pilot in one of the world's air forces if you're looking to fly quality aircraft.  With advances in stealth and the availability of generation 4, 4.5 and 5 fighters on the marketplace, pilots have a bevy of new toys to choose from.

Just as a basic primer on fighter plane generations, generation 4 fighters generally offered improvements over previous generations in agility, weapons,  range, communications, navigation, radar and defensive systems.  Gen 4.5 offered further improvements in radar (PESA/AESA), mission computers, navigation and communication, radar cross section reduction measures, and in some cases super cruise capability and thrust vectoring engines.  Gen 5 jets include even more advancements with the most significant being stealth.

The U.S. air force flies generation 4, 4.5 and 5 aircraft in the f-16 and its various block models, f-15's up through the E model, and the brand new air dominator, the generation 5 F-22 Raptor.  Plus the 5th generation F-35 Lightning II  is coming into service soon.  The U.S. Navy and Marines fly gen 4 F/A-18's and gen 4.5 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets; and both will also fly the F-35 when it comes into service.  The F-22 is not for export, but the rest are there for the air forces and naval air arms of allied nations to pick from.  Additionally, the stealthy  F-15SE was recently unveiled for potential export.

Other nations around the world are also offering new flying chariots for knights of the air.  The French are offering the 4.5 generation Rafale (although no one has bought it yet), Germany/Britain/Italy/Spain are offering the gen 4.5 Eurofighter Typhoon, Sweden has the gen 4.5 JAS-39 Gripen NG in development, India has the 4.5 gen HAL Tejas in the final stages, while the Russians have the gen 4.5 Mig-35 and  SU-35; and soon will have the PAK FA (SU-50) 5th generation fighter. 

Even China is in the game with the 4.5 gen J-10B in the works for Pakistan. due for delivery around 2014-2015.  Today also marks the start of final stage assembly for the 4th generation Sino-Pakistani JF-17/FC-1.  These two reasonably priced models may hit it big in developing countries.  In the JF-17 an African country can upgrade from old generation 2 Mig-21's to a capable medium tech 4th generation jet for less than $20 million.

Pilots of today and the future will have many potential threats to deal with.  In aircraft like these they will be better able to do so.

For explanations on the capabilities of the various generations and aircraft click these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_aircraft#Jet-powered_fighters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_aircraft#List_of_stealth_aircraft
http://www.globalsecurity.org/
http://www.angelfire.com/biz7/stevex/military.html
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/category/fighters-ground-attack/