Take this any way you want to but I still wonder how the mayor of a middle-sized city can know anything about “transportation”. IMO, Buttigieg got the job because he “checked certain boxes”. Nuff said.
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Potential job seekers in the Trump Admin who are looking for a job in 2025 know they need to kiss the ring whether it be on the Web or TV in order to get noticed. They are not Tier 1 or 2 candidates, more like Tier 3.
I suspect the mayors of mid-sized cities know a lot about transportation*
*if it involves busses, trains, bikes, or cars. The other stuff…maybe, maybe not.
He was in the Navy, so he must have had some exposure to the concept of boats one would think???
Maybe he got seasick and doesn’t like them 
I don’t think in the last 50 years anyone has made any priority out of deep sea, probably not since WW II actually. You know it is entirely possible Miss Harris won’t keep him on 
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Seems like you want us to take it a certain way
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Seems there is quite a bit of angst about the lack of government support for a private- commercial US business sector. Here is one additional fact that gets little play in this discussion. Commercial/Merchant ships are nothing more than economic assets. Their sole purpose is to make money. That’s it.
Now we have developed a sort of niche cottage industry here where a hand full of advocates, both for and against, can directly and indirectly can benefit from this government- private industry give and take around the Jones Act. Where in the name of national defense a series of indirect dollars can be funneled out of the publics hands and wind up in the hands of a few private companies. A very good case can be made that the real purpose of the Jones Act in the last 25 years has been to maintain the status quo for a remarkably limited number of beneficiaries. By any dispassionate measure, it has been much more successful at that than its stated purpose of promoting the US Maritime industry.
The solution to this problem is remarkably simple. Almost any reasonable person who has looked at has seen it quickly. The problem is this simple solution, has proven near impossible to implement. The solution is to remove the incredible economic obstacle the US build requirement. There is enough entrepreneurial talent in this country to grow the industry without that hurdle to jump. Back to my first point - you want to build the industry - give it a bit of a more level playing field to compete economically.
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Additionally it might be advantageous to look at how other countries keep their maritime sector alive and profitable while protecting jobs. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Been a lot of that with the editorials JK posts slamming Buttigieg.
JK is awesome. When BLM started up & was in the news, JK did a couple of editorials & was labeled a leftwing extremist by more than a few on this anonymous open forum. Now he’s a right wing table scrap begger to these 2 new posters who opened their accounts back in June/July. JK is a talented man who can be anything to anyone depending on how extreme they are.
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FYI: The airplane version of the Jones Act applies to ownership of the plane, not where it was built. French airplanes are OK, but not French owners.’
I lost a sweet flying job when the FAA found out the owners of my company were a front and a Japanese company owned us behind the scenes. That was the end of that company!
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Looks like US shipowners manage quite well without government support:
Source: Top 10 shipowner countries/regions in the world – VesselsLink
This is US flagged or US owned?
You gotta be kidding me.
The only job I’m qualified for is MARAD and the last three MARAD administrators have been retired naval officers. They don’t put mariners in that position.
In fact I can’t think of a single us merchant mariner anywhere in DC
And even if I had a remote chance… you think the navy admirals would let me anywhere near that position given what I’ve said about them?
Now let’s talk about all the nice thing’s I’ve said about Secretary Del Toro and Mark Kelly. You think the Trump republicans would appreciate that?
Lastly who the hell wants the MARAD job anyway? Have you been to MARAD’s HQ? Have you talked with people who work there?
And let’s not forget all the articles I wrote being critical of Buzby and Elaine Chao.
This is the problem with politics today. We got absolutely blasted by republicans during the Trunp years and now I’m getting blasted by those of you on the left.
Maybe, just maybe, I hate bad maritime policy.
Maybe, just maybe, I talk to a lot of people in DC and Pete IS doing a horrible job? If it was just politics then why would I hate on Pete but be so opening supportive of Kelly and Del Toro??
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I know some…
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Thank you! And you are correct.
And I still believe we are failing miserably at getting more minorities into uper level positions, which is why I am a proud member of Organization of Black Maritime Graduates.
Here’s the link for all you dems to join and donate along with me: OBMG BECOME A MEMBER
Sorry, I meant to write merchant marine captain or chief engineer.
There are a few individuals, such as Mark Kelly, who once held third-class licenses. Additionally, there are numerous lawyers on K Street who briefly held the rank of second mate.
If I’m honest I can think of one captain and one chief in DC but he works at MARAD which doesn’t count because most of those guys work remotely. Maybe a couple union lobbyists too? Lobbyists don’t count imho
This is based on US owned. Counted by asset value.
Appears that US owners are doing good in the world of shipping.
Why they don’t use US flag is not exactly a mystery.
Does DIS, FIS, NIS ring a bell?
UK have IOM, GIB and BMD register available (aka;“spoiled red dusters”)
The Dutch have their Caribbean paradises to use (still Dutch flag)
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Has there ever been any other kind? If it was not for ANS crude we would have been at this fleet size and lack of shipyard capacity 20 years ago
The answer to much of your issues are simple and you know them better than anyone - they are just amazingly difficult to do
Want to rebuild shipyard capacity- simple make the case in congress that it is a strategic need, fund it, and subsidize it directly
Want sealift capacity able to support a prolonged ground war- simple- go to congress make your case - get the funding, Hire 3-5 quality ship brokers, buy half of what you need in the market and order the rest from the ship yards that build them.
Not going to attempt to address your views on the navy - it has been a minute since I resigned my commission. But in my days on active duty and my time in the reserves- I have a great deal of respect for the ability and professionalism of the senior officers I have known. I am going to run with the assumption that hasn’t changed- and those folks are still doing a wonderful job within the limits of the funding and support they get from capital hill. And just maybe they know more about how to effectively complete their mission than I do.
3rd world flags with 3rd world crew doesn’t really help 
I have been taking trips to DC and meeting with a lot of them.
Undoubtedly true they are professionals but they are facing s fee serious challenges snd, IMHO, not pushing back hard enough
The biggest problem is the Navy did exception work supporting the Army and Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan. They really bought into the joint force concept (for good reason) and did a great job supporting the other services (which really did need the help)
Problem is now the other services aren’t reciprocating now that the focus is the western pacific with combat action in the Red Sea.
The Air Force honestly doesn’t have much budget or capacity to help but the army does and refuses to give up the influence and power they have built up over 20 years.
The admirals must push back but very few do because they got promoted to these ranks specifically because they were good team players
How the Navy justified loss in capability is also troubling. It’s nearly impossible to find a congressional hear in the last ten years where - when questioned about capability gaps - some admiral doesn’t say “we are falling behind but we have great allies to fill in the gap”
The USCG does amazing work overseas but their budget is minuscule
Problem is we really don’t. Japan is building out its fleet and Australia is trying but both refused to help in the red sea. France and italy are decent but they (rightfully I believe) refused to work under American command in the red sea. The royal navy tries but it’s a shell of its former self. Canada, new zealand, denmark., are absolute jokes
And all our allies have similar blind spots (like oilers, salvage ships, etc) and all are prioritizing way more on army and air force needs over naval
So yeah the Admirals are professionals and are doing a amazing work considering the cards they have been dealt but they gotta stop expecting the army and allies to help when the last few months have proven they are unwilling (army) or not capable (most allies)
And I believe part of professionalism is being honest with congress about these problems
John, New Zealand has the armed forces that Alabama would have, without Federal Support. We just purchased 4 Poseidon aircraft at $2 billion. That for about 2 million ( taxpayers) is about a grand each.
When I was at sea I was naturally keen on having some protection as I was going about by lawful business. But I did like my taxes to pay for schools and roads.
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