Welcome

Welcome to Birth of a book. Originally published as a blog to read comments about the creation of my book Seven-Tenths; Love, Piracy and Science at Sea, it also includes details of upcoming events and periodic odd musings from me and sometimes even my daughter Sara who contributed her thoughts on our trip to AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI where she tried her hand at a father-daughter blog.


David

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Our Greatest Right

There seems to be an endless list of political hot buttons that automatically drive us into one camp or the other. Most of these divisive issues leave no space anymore for common ground. There is however, one subject that we as Americans should ALL be able to agree on. It is the the cornerstone upon which our republic is built and for which so much blood has been spilled.

I'm speaking of our right to vote. I would defy anyone, Democrat, or Republican, to argue that there was anything else more fundamental to the establishment of our country than the right to a representative government. The original Tea Party members knew this. Their demonstrations and protestations of "No taxation without representation" set the stage for what was to follow, and their rally cry became the spark for a revolution and the birth of a new nation. In those formative times the very act of voting was looked upon as more than a right. It was also a duty, an obligation to participate in the development of a fledgling nation based upon the idea that people could self-govern even when the government was made up of a diverse collection of independent colonies.

Over the years we have stumbled in the maintenance of our Republic. Slavery brought with it, not only an immoral period of darkness which tarnished the very words of the Constitution, but exposed the hypocrisy of country born of representative government. Redemption came in the form of another, internal, revolution. A civil war that was in large part a desire for a people to have a say in their own destiny. A war that ultimately, again affirmed the right of every citizen's voice to be heard.

At this point I would find it hard to believe that any patriotic American would disagree with these words, for these are the truths which make us who we are. I would also speculate that all of us believe that when we exercise our right to vote we become a stronger nation, and conversely, by sitting idle and  not casting our ballot, we are shirking our responsibility as citizens.

So how is it that the very tool which built our nation is being dulled through initiatives designed to reduce voter turn-out? Under the guise of budget cuts, voter fraud, purging of voter records, and other insidious means millions of people are becoming disenfranchised across America. Unsubstantiated accusations of voter fraud top the list of justification for laws that have been effective in limiting voter turn-out despite repeated research proving fraud in U.S. elections is so insignificant that it is all but immeasurable. What can be measured with high accuracy is the number of citizens who have had their most important right taken away. How can anyone who claims to love this country, and the foundation from which it is based, sit idle and allow this mockery of our Constitution to continue.

Whenever the people of this nation have felt their ability to self-govern was threatened they fought back. The inevitable fight we face may not be a bloody one, but will result in a pendulous swing to the opposite ideological pole. A place which can be just as destructive when ruled by people motivated by revenge.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

The Semi-automatic Cessna



The Semi-Automatic Cessna


A friend of mine who has recently been parroting the NRA illusion of “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, tried to deflect my criticism of the NRA by reminding me that I’m a pilot. As a pilot, he said, I should know that flying is risky for both people in planes as well as those on the ground who may unexpectedly find themselves with a small aircraft plummeting through their roof. “Even with this risk we wouldn’t think of taking away your planes” he says.


On the surface it would seem that this argument has some merit. Giving even the slightest thought to the analogy however shows how full of holes his position really is. Just as gun owners have the NRA, pilots have associations that perform a similar function. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for example, advocates, organizes, supports, and lobbies for General Aviation (GA) pilots. There are also federal aviation agencies that parallel those responsible for gun control (The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) such as the FAA and the NTSB. So far, the opportunity for comparison seems ripe.


Here is where the comparison between guns and aircraft (or just about anything else on the planet with the potential to kill you) breaks down in a big way. Every side of the aviation triangle – federal agencies, advocacy groups, and pilots are constantly working together to improve aviation safety. Federal funds are used to study and learn from aviation accidents. Detailed, scientifically supported reports are issued, and proposals for new training requirements and aircraft regulations are put forth. Groups like AOPA spend a significant portion of their resources to facilitate improvements in aviation safety. Through their magazines and member network they write about safety, provide access to safety information, and sponsor local safety seminars, all in an effort to reach as many pilots as possible. Pilots themselves take responsibility for their own lives and the lives of others very seriously. The entire pilot training process instills a never-ending focus for continuous improvement in piloting skills.


The end result of this cooperative triangle of safety is that GA flying is safer today than it has ever been since aviation began. This could only be achieved though the shared goal of everyone involved to push the accident rate towards zero and with the acceptance of ALL involved that safety in the air cannot be achieved without some level of cost and personal sacrifice. There are a minority of pilots who chafe at anything that regulates their freedom of flight, but the reality is, pass the pilot test and the sky you get to play in is almost limitless.


The aviation safety example I have given can easily be used to describe automobiles, medicine, boats, or even lethal fuzzy slippers. We take for granted that government agencies, manufacturers, and end users share a common goal of reducing accidents and injury. This holds true in every industry but firearms, where even to suggest a discussion of gun violence is met with rabid derision. History has proven that it is possible for continuous safety improvement, but only if we are willing to work for it.


Imagine a world where the auto industry was represented by an organization like the NRA. It would be a world filled with cars devoid of anti-lock brakes, ignition keys, airbags, and crumple zones. These cars however would travel at 180 MPH, and you wouldn’t need a license to drive one.


David Fisichella

Feb 2018