Redistribution

In peacetime the mission of the United States Navy is peacetime engagement, deterrence and conflict prevention. To meet this directive Navy vessels must be at sea and battle ready at a moments notice. On a nuclear powered submarine there are various departments and divisions made up of volunteers to ensure this goal is met.

When a submarine is at sea the entire crew works long hours, standing watch, maintaining equipment, training on equipment and running drills for damage control proficiency. In port the schedule is different depending on what division a sailor is assigned to. The Radio Division for example stands in-port watches required for the security of the submarine, performs routine maintenance the radio equipment and assists vendor technicians performing upgrades on the equipment. Barring a major catastrophe with the equipment this normally means they have normal work days and ample time off to spend with family and friends. The Machinery division on the other hand, just by the nature of machinery, has to put in long hours while in-port standing watches, operating required equipment, performing routine preventive maintenance and performing required repairs. Both divisions are vital to the overall operation of the submarine and its ability to meet its assigned missions on time. One other consideration is that in most cases it costs more money to have a nuclear powered ship in port then to have it operating at sea due to the port services required.

If the Navy were to apply the idea of redistribution to the working hours of these two divisions one of the following would occur.

- If the work load was distributed evenly between the two divisions there would be unqualified and untrained personnel being loaned to the Machinery Division to work. This would result in equipment either not being repaired and maintained in a timely manner or being repaired and maintained incorrectly. End result: the submarine would not meet its mission goals.

- If the Machinery Division were to alter its work day to meet the same hours as the Radio Division routine maintenance and repairs would take longer then the prescribed time and cost more money in the long run. End result: the submarine would not meet its mission goals.

- If the Radio Division were to alter its work day to meet the same hours as the Machinery Division there would be a waste of assets in the form of Radio personnel sitting around with no work to perform. End result: the submarine would meet its mission goals but not for long. The Navy would end up with disgruntled sailors that would not reenlist for extended service, end result: the Navy would not meet its mission goals due to loss of experienced personnel.

The idea of redistribution of wealth within the United States works the same. If the Government takes from those that work and give to those that don’t the same results will happen, the United States will not meet its mission goals. In America individuals have the opportunity to better themselves through hard work, the opportunity to be the best they can be according to their abilities and desires. When the reasons to succeed are taken away the desires to succeed will go away. Sooner or later the working class will tire of seeing their effort, sacrifice and sweat going to those that are unwilling to put in the effort. This will create a nation of welfare. The Government does not produce a product or service it can sell to obtain the funds required to support a welfare nation. End result: The United States will fail.

On one particular nuclear powered submarine the Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Radio Division and the Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Machinery Division lived in the same neighborhood. They spent time together at cookouts and watching their children play little league baseball. On one occasion when the Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Machinery Division had to put in long hours the wife of the Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Radio Division remarked how unfair it was that one had to work and miss out on family time while her husband was able to be home. The Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Radio Division responded to her that they both had chosen their career paths, both had volunteered willingly and knowingly of what they were doing, he was right. In America, at least for the time being, Americans are free to choose, free to choose their career paths, free to choose how successful they will be. Redistribution may not actually take away this choice, but it will take away the desire, it will take away the spirit of the American people. Redistribution could eventually lead to a redistribution of land and careers, the Government could determine for you what career path you will take based on what is needed in the Governments opinion, not yours. Redistribution will not affect those that have political power, the elite. They will not give up their power and wealth, they will be the rulers over the American people. Is this the America you want to live in? The America you want to pass on to future generations?