President Steampunk making 1800s great again
Perhaps it is being an engineer or just a former Boy Scout that makes me embarrassed by our national leader. Before widespread use of the GPS, many youngsters and adults relied on maps and magnetic compasses. Compasses have been used for centuries on land and at sea. Compasses work because the Earth is basically a giant magnet. It is not complicated, even for children.
Also embarrassing was hearing about the advantages of using steam instead of electromagnets to launch aircraft while our leader was in Asia. China recently commissioned an aircraft carrier with electromagnetic launch capability, a capability that the modern USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has. Similarly embarrassing is that Japan, China and South Korea have all used MAGLEV trains in their countries for years, rain or shine. MAGLEV trains use magnets for levitation, to greatly reduce friction, and for propulsion.
Perhaps if using steam is so advantageous, our leader can retrofit his numerous properties to use coal, steam and radiators. Perhaps President Steampunk will mandate using coal and steam powered jets, Humvees, tanks, aircraft carriers, ships and submarines, as long as there are enough sailors that can hold their breaths for weeks at a time. It’s continually embarrassing for a nation that used to pride itself on being the most technologically advanced in the world to have a leader promoting 1800s technology.