General Aviation...The current times...

[scottfromiowa]

Does anyone know how much (in fuel taxes/state registration fees...soon to be Federal Registration fees)  Genaral aviation pays on an annual basis?  I would like this number as I get really tired (as a taxpayer) paying high gas prices, of having USA Today and mainstream media bash general aviation every time a small airport gets a grant.  I know general aviation is also included in towered airports (commercial) where a ticket tax as well as fuel tax is levied, but  this is similar to my gripe as a bird-hunter paying license fees as well as high tax on ammunition etc. that goes to other areas like parks...yet people are "Anti-hunting" just like they are to a large extent anti-aviation (general) feeling that it is "elitist"...and dangerous...

The comments about Roush's accident on heel of USA Today anti aviation/Osh article (talking about how many die)...just makes me NOT support mainstream media.  The networks and mainstream media have bias against activities I enjoy pursueing and PAY taxes and fees and support through annual expense/insurance/upgrades/repairs a whole bunch of jobs...

DON'T TREAD ON ME! is my theme...I'm mad as HE__ and I'm NOT going to take it anymore.  We seem to be fighting a loosing battle.  Thanks in advance if anyone has this figure...

[Skywarrior]

What is USAA?

Chuck M.

[scottfromiowa]

Retraction...

[scottfromiowa]

Skywarrior...thanks for heads up.  Must have had insurance on the brain.  I modified my initial post.

[Barry]

Scott ... I've many hobbies over the years aside from flying and there are "anti's" for every one of them. Some are: SCUBA (hurting the reefs), ham radio (rf exposure), photography (privacy and security), woodworking (People say that this is just rich folks having fun ) ), boating (pollution, noisy, rich folks having fun )), hunting (guns are dangerous, poor animals), RC Modeling (dangerous, noisy, rich folks having fun )). I didn't know I was rich!!

I don't believe that there is a hobby out there that there is someone who does not disapprove of!! Ask around and see how many other people have hobbies. I am shocked at the number of guys where I work that don't really have a hobby (other than an occasional golfer). No imagination!!

Thank goodness for organizations who want to protect us, like EAA and AOPA. I belong to both, as well as ARRL (ham radio) and AARP ( old dudes). I am convinced that there are a million people out there who HATE to see others have a good time and make it a point to try to stamp it out.

Off soapbox ...

[scottfromiowa]

Thanks for the chuckles Barry.  Sigh, I guess you are right in that there does seem to be an "anti" special interest group for every pro...like to do that group.  I guess your not really paranoid when "they really are out to get you"...government in taxes and anti's to end/minimize the pursuit and its support.  I'm a "if you like to do it, go for it" guy and don't really "get" the anti movements...I guess that is their hobby?

[Kwixdraw]

OK let the Calif. redneck up on the soapbox a minute. Barry I find you and I have a lot in common, SCUBA, shooting, motorcycles(on & off road), and show dogs for me. I call the anti everything crowds the "handwringers". If you take them one at a time that's all they are. Now it has been my experience that most special interests do a pretty good job of policing themselves because they want a good public image and want to keep doing what they love. I think what we need to do is start taking the battle to the handwringers because I really believe they are  just losers who can't create anything and take up anarchy as a hobby. Retired cop here. You should have seen the idiots every time the circus would come to town. People trying to let the lions out or block the elephant parade. PETA bringing strippers in from LasVegas body painted like a tiger or leopard to sit in a cage on the street corner while they parade around. Follow the money folks! You are not going to find a lot of Joe average folks at these events, they are too busy working. These creeps are either on some entitlement program or they are paid professional troublemakers.

We had 10 jerks chain themselves together in an intersection of L.A. today and tie up traffic for hours protesting Arizona's SB1070. Their spokesman was Arabic. What's his interest in immigration on the Mexican border? I thought it would have been fun to take a little legally owned pepper spray and sort of let it drift on the wind toward them and see how fast they would want to get out of the way. Then maybe shoot off a few firecrackers and make them think someone was shooting at them so they would panic and injure each other. The good guys are going to have to get creative in dealing with these fools and the politicians who pander to them.

Not to offend anyone but I'm starting to feel like Charles Bronson, ready to break a few noses to get them out of my business.

[Jeff_S]

America has a long history of competing interest groups sniping at each other. This goes back to the Revolution and follows through to this day. It's the natural tendency in a society that has freedom of speech and freedom of expression. (OpEd: While ours seems to be getting less and less lately, we still enjoy these freedoms more than anyone else in the world.)

Yet amazingly, when times get really tough and we have to band together, we always do. Wars are good for this, as are economic difficulties. So one would think that since we are in both a war AND a recession we should be coming together. The problem is that the war is too far away, and out of the public eye. And the recession is bad but not THAT bad for all but the 3.5% of folks who can't find a job (remember, the NATURAL rate of unemployment is about 6% so only the balance of those are really looking).

So while I admit the petty sniping is obnoxious, I also see it as a sign that things are pretty much normal. We go on defending our own interests like we must.

[MooneyMitch]

"So while I admit the petty sniping is obnoxious, I also see it as a sign that things are pretty much normal. We go on defending our own interests like we must."

Share the Passion...............promote GA!

[fantom]

Quote: Jeff_S

...And the recession is bad but not THAT bad for all but the 3.5% of folks who can't find a job (remember, the NATURAL rate of unemployment is about 6% so only the balance of those are really looking).

[Jeff_S]

So, was it the "YGBSM" that was the heart of that response? I have to admit I had to look that one up...wasn't familiar with the Wild Weasel motto.  I hope my prior post was not seen as harsh or uncaring. I do realize that 3.5% of the working population is still 5 million people or so. But my point was that even in this "worst economy since the Great Depression" somehow we don't have soup lines everywhere, and Apple is still able to sell more than 2 million iPhone 4s in less than a month. So it hasn't created the sort of total, widespread economic hardship that would bring the country together and stop the petty sniping that was the OP's gripe.

[Kwixdraw]

I don't know about that. Seems like everyone I know is suddenly very interested in having all incumbent politicians voted out of office they are having such a great time in life.   YGBSM   I love the military sense of humor. Tried to get a personalized license plate for my 'Vette...BOHICA  but DMV had no sense of humor at all.

[scottfromiowa]

Just broused a Famous Smoke Shop catalog and saw that CAO GOL's (we're a pricey $75 for 20 sticks)...and now are $130.  Thanks Uncle Sam.  That is one occasional pleasure removed by our Federal Government from my list of participation...due to tax increases.  Hunting...non toxic high $ shot is coming...can't have lead in the woods...and aviation...can't have lead in the gas.  I'm going to have some cheese for lunch to go with my wine

[scottfromiowa]

This Federal Government is FUBAR...just to add my favorite.

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: scottfromiowa

This Federal Government is FUBAR...just to add my favorite.

[Barry]

Quote: GeorgePerry