mspurgeo@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Mike Spurgeon) (12/15/90)
Bob Church says: >............................................ Is it a coincidence that >many of the recent rules from the USPA regarding "safety" seem to be >related more to selling gear and then this recent influx of cash into the >campaign? I have personally discussed this `only interested in selling expensive equipment' argument with Bob on a few occasions. He doesn't seem to remember (or chooses to ignore) all the input that was/is sought before these changes took/take place. While a manufacturer of equipment certainly has an interest in changes to the BSR's that might increase his sales, he also has an interest in the long term SAFETY benefits of those changes. Changes in equipment will, in the long term, only take place when they INCREASE SAFETY while they are being used by skydivers. If an innovation fails to do so, it will fail in the marketplace. Look at `the no-rig rig' and various release systems, other than the 3-ring as two examples. To imply that changes to the BSR's benefit ONLY the manufacturers and dealers is to ignore the great decrease in both student and experienced jumpers' injury rate, and the increase in the retention rate of students that has taken place because of the equipment and training changes. We ALL benefit, not just the manufacturers and dealers. That, having been said, it follows that the increase in money being spent for elected offices benefits ALL of us. Although we are small, as Joan G. says, we do spend millions of dollars each year. The recent increase in money spent, as well as number of candidates and controversies serves us all well. We never get all of what we want, only WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON. The system serves us well. If it doesn't, we are the only ones who can change it.
bchurch@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Bob Church) (12/15/90)
In article <2697@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU>, mspurgeo@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Mike Spurgeon) writes: > Bob Church says: > > >............................................ Is it a coincidence that > >many of the recent rules from the USPA regarding "safety" seem to be > >related more to selling gear and then this recent influx of cash into the > >campaign? > > I have personally discussed this `only interested in selling expensive > equipment' argument with Bob on a few occasions. He doesn't seem to > remember (or chooses to ignore) all the input that was/is sought before > these changes took/take place. Oh sure, that's exactly what I'd expect you to say Mike. After all, you're the one who gets taken to the meets on the USPA corporate jet every month at our expense. And then there's those expensive lobster dinners and champagne parties that the gear dealers keep giving you. I've seen them! And let's not forget about that Jimmy Hoffa night jump cover up thing. Just because the USPA keeps you supplied in caviar, cocaine and blonds don't think the rest of us will go along with your game. Bob Church bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu