6 yr old in runaway hot air ballon

[TechAquaria]

Even then this is a double edge sword, What if something DID happen while everyone was out scurrying to watch a ballon and wasting tax dollars. Those AirForce helo's and planes are on standby for a national emergency, not someones PR stunt.

Just a passing analysis of this whole thing makes the agencies involved look like they were engaged in an episode of "The Three Stooges." With a slightly modified FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) camera, drug enforcement agencies are able to locate pot (marijuana) plantings in national forests, BLM lands, etc.--all by the unique heat signature given off by the plants. Determining if a small human was on-board would seem a cinch.

Like I say, I don't think any vast amount of money was spent. All those people would have been paid anyway. Perhaps the fuel bill is a legitimate claim ...

These self important and all-serious public servants do me a great disservice by looking like such imbeciles! And, quoting such big expenses only makes it apparent that they consider me (the public) to be imbeciles!--that gripes me the most, actually! :rant2:

Just my two cents ...

Regards,
TA

 

[abcdefghi]

Like I say, I don't think any vast amount of money was spent. All those people would have been paid anyway. Perhaps the fuel bill is a legitimate claim ...

What about the cost of shutting down Denver International Airport? numerous flights delayed, people (possibly) missing connecting flights etc... I see where you are coming from, but some idiots PR stunt in hopes of getting a reality TV show is not, and should never be viewed as a training exercise for emergency services.

On another note, how sad is it that a family will pull off such a hoax in order to get a reality TV show? people are so desperate for their 15 minutes of fame that they will do anything in order to be on TV. Sadly I am sure this family will end up making money out of this incident.

 

[Star_Rider]

there is a real cost of support when rescue, fire, police is involved.

the resources have to be diverted and often off hour people called in to support.

I worked Law enforcement for 2 years.

there are teams set up to be called out when this happens. the field units(patrol) still have to maintain the vigil.

I personally feel that when a stunt like this is pulled.. there should be a cost.

there has to be something to persuade people to not pull pr stunts and recoup some of the lost $$.
(if only it really worked like that):huh:

 

[bluekrissyspike]

and even the people who 'would have been paid anyways' could have actually been doing real work, so their salary during the time they spent on this should be repaid by the family. the time they took up was taken from more important things.

 

[TechAquaria]

Personal experience ...

and even the people who 'would have been paid anyways' could have actually been doing real work, so their salary during the time they spent on this should be repaid by the family. the time they took up was taken from more important things.

I have always found, that personal experience, education, place of birth, etc. influences ones' views, understanding and methods implemented in life, in such matters. Or, in effect, it is blatantly obvious that someone raised in a low-income housing project, and working at a near minimum wage job,will have a much differing understanding of the world than say a college professor from MIT, Yale, Princeton (nothing meant to be inferred by this particular example--it just provide a MOST DRAMATIC EXAMPLE of the point I wish to make.)

So, people with little education and working as public servants will have a much different take on "proper action(s)", punishments and "fairness", than say, the "thinkers" and those who have made lifelong studies of ethics, morals and "likely results."

I have had the best experiences in life from "hanging around" people of higher education, great tolerance, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, etc. I have always intuited that people who tend to jump to severe, dramatic, intense and "draconian" actions, punishments, and views of fairness, tend to come from backgrounds of mistreatment, abuse, unfairness, poverty, etc.

I admit, these are only my personal experiences and "life experiences" which have lead me these conclusions--which may, or may not be, correct.

In any given situation, I tend to like to ask myself, "What would Jesus do?" I just end up sleeping better, at night ...

Regards,
TA

 

[Coler]

So, people with little education and working as public servants will have a much different take on "proper action(s)", punishments and "fairness", than say, the "thinkers" and those who have made lifelong studies of ethics, morals and "likely results."

I have had the best e
TA

What you say entirely precludes the possibility that people 'with little education and working as public servants' could be 'thinkers' in the way in which you use that word. So I couldn't agree with you.

Is it the fact that the people you describe have little education or the fact that they are public servants that prevents them from being thinkers, as a matter of interest ? Or are they public servants because they have little education ?

Actually...I'm not entirely convinced I need to hear the answers to those questions.

 

[TechAquaria]

What you say entirely precludes the possibility that people 'with little education and working as public servants' could be 'thinkers' in the way in which you use that word. So I couldn't agree with you.

Is it the fact that the people you describe have little education or the fact that they are public servants that prevents them from being thinkers, as a matter of interest ? Or are they public servants because they have little education ?

Actually...I'm not entirely convinced I need to hear the answers to those questions.

Yeah, in my area, IT IS; you would best know about yours.

Ex-military gets first preference at cop, fire, medic, etc. jobs here; since, I believe that is pretty much a federal program, I would be surprised if your area is that much different. This usually means some one who joined the military because it was the best "opportunity" for them, got out, took a 6 month course, and is now wearing a badge patrolling my streets.

Personally, I would prefer better ... now, they could all be "Einsteins", however, from their rude nature, making mountains out of mole-hills, being disrespectful to senior citizens, behavior patterns, etc.--I am not very impressed ...

Regards,
TA

 

[Kashta]

TechAquaria, I fail to see how justifying yourself to validate your views over anyone else's has got anything to do with this thread. People hold differing opinions based on many factors - not just the ones you consider more worthwhile. Live and let live, dude.

I'm real glad the kid is safe. That any parents would stoop to pulling a hoax like this is ridiculous.

 

[TechAquaria]

TechAquaria, I fail to see how justifying yourself to validate your views over anyone else's has got anything to do with this thread. People hold differing opinions based on many factors - not just the ones you consider more worthwhile. Live and let live, dude.

I'm real glad the kid is safe. That any parents would stoop to pulling a hoax like this is ridiculous.

I don't believe I did any of that. I believe my posts reflect that fact I took ownership in the form I only called these my personal observations, and life experiences. I simply gave an example of why I believe this, anyone can look up an application for the Stockton Police, San Joaquin Sheriffs Office, Lodi Police, Tracy Police, Modesto Police, etc. and ascertain the truthfulness of my statements. Indeed, the police/sheriffs training programs are available for viewing in the San Joaquin Delta College course catalog ...

I tend to only hold personal beliefs if I can find a reason to root them in fact ...

Regards,
TA

 

[jpappy789]

Consequences deter people from making such poor decisions. Chances are if there's one (stupid) person out there who would pull such a stunt as this, there's likely to be another. To let these people go without action would be allowing this to potentially happen again. This was a huge distraction for the local law enforcement, national guard, the Denver Airport, etc.

So obviously charges should be pressed. As for the extra costs...

While the balloon was airborne, Colorado Army National Guard sent a UH-58 Kiowa helicopter and was preparing to send a Black Hawk UH-60 to try to rescue the boy, possibly by lowering someone to the balloon. They also were working with pilots of ultralight aircraft on the possibility of putting weights on the homemade craft to weigh it down.
It wasn't immediately clear how much the search operation cost. Capt. Troy Brown said the Black Hawk helicopter was in the air for nearly three hours, and the Kiowa helicopter was airborne for about one hour. The Black Hawk costs about $4,600 an hour to fly, and the Kiowa is $700 an hour, Brown said

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_boy_in_balloon

These were unnecessary costs IMO.