Letter to my congressman (R) regarding proposed new $500,000,000 London embassy:
Hon. Jo Bonner 04/01/2011
P.O. Box 851232
Mobile, AL 36685-1232
Dear Congressman Bonner,
A MODEST PROPOSAL*
I recently read that we’re about to build a new $500,000,000 embassy in London.
“BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham's B.L. Harbert International said today it will build the new $500 million U.S. embassy compound in London.
The Birmingham construction company, which has built embassies around the world, beat out several other companies vying for the high-profile job.”
http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2012/03/bl_harbert_to_build_500_millio.html
While I’m sure it’s gratifying to see that an Alabama corporation got this contract, I have to ask:
WHY DO WE NEED A NEW EMBASSY IN LONDON?
What’s wrong with the ‘old’ one?
Ok, never mind that. I’m sure there are some really good reasons.
BUT…how can we afford it when we’re already in debt up to our eyeballs?
As a nation, we can’t afford to care for sick folks who can’t afford to pay for health insurance. And if what I read and see on television is true, the Republican party in your house of congress wants to gut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
I have to ask. WHY are we still the only developed nation in the world without some kind of universal national health care program?
I know there’s been a lot of propaganda about ‘socialized medicine’ and ‘death panels’.
But isn’t it interesting that no nation where the overwhelming majority has voted FOR a national healthcare program has ever voted to discontinue it?
Makes you wonder.
What do they know that we don’t?
Sorry, I digress.
Read on.
Anyway…
*THE MODEST PROPOSAL
The aircraft carrier CV Constellation is in mothballs in Bremerton, Washington.
“As of January 26, 2012 the Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command posted a notice of solicitation for the towing and complete dismantlement of multiple CV-59/CV-63 Class Aircraft Carriers in the United States, to include ex-Forrestal (CV 59), ex-Independence (CV 62), and ex-Constellation (CV 64). “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_%28CV-64%29#Retirement
They gonna sell it for scrap!
Aircraft carriers are frequently described as “floating cities”.
They’re self-contained and self-supporting.
Got their own kitchens, generators, HVAC systems, living quarters, offices, everything you need to live.
The Constellation had a crew complement of 340 men, and displaced 1,278 tons with a beam of 41 feet and length of 164 feet. I don’t know what the draft is, but that could be important.
Is the staff of our London embassy more than 340?
Can’t be.
So…we take the ‘Connie’ out of mothballs and motor it around to England.
Maybe it could even be anchored in the Thames?
Huge 300,000+ sq. ft. deck for recreation areas and receptions. Maybe even gardens. Grow some of their own food. Heck, you could probably even run a few cattle and hogs.
Chickens and fresh eggs shouldn’t be a problem.
Helipads. Solar panels. Wind power?
The mind boggles at the opportunities.
And what better way to ‘show the flag’ of a war-faring nation than to station our embassy on an AIRCRAFT CARRIER!
Quite immodestly (I apologize) JUST BRILLIANT!
And I bet we could do it for a lot less than half a billion dollars.
I hope you’ll draft a bill to substitute the carrier Constellation for the Harbert Construction London Embassy project at your first opportunity.
Thank you.
trof
Somewhere, AL
= new reply since forum marked as read
I wonder if he'll answer...
You have confused the 1854 Tall-Masted frigate ship U.S.S. Constellation
http://www.historicships.org/constellation.html
with the aircraft carrier CV-64, U.S.S. Constellation
The CV-64 U.S.S. Constellation is not 164 feet long. She is 1,088 feet long, and carried a crew somewhere upwards of 3,000. (draft of 39 feet, so she couldn't make it too far up the Thames, by the way.)
But yes, I see the possibilities here...
