jacobreg

The poverty thing could well be sampling bias, I'm sure rich folks have a much easier time avoiding convictions.

Banks also have money, I think that helps a bit...

What is the most effective avenue to voice my concerns?

They're different segments of the market though. A new 172 is closer to a new SR20 than it is to an old 172.

If you want a reasonably priced plane to go buzz around on the weekend, you get a 172 from the 60s-70s for $25k-$60k. If you've got $300k+ to spend on a plane and wanna get the latest and greatest, then you start looking at new 172s or an SR20 or something.

Planes don't really die unless they get crashed, are seriously neglected, or an AD comes out with prohibitively high costs to get in compliance (e.g. L-13 Blanik). Almost all those old planes are still around, so there isn't much reason to be buying new ones. It's a testament to the success of the 172 that 50 years later, nobody is buying new basic trainers and the only way to sell new aircraft is to offer the latest and greatest tech.

"Ugliness has no permanent place in mathematics"

-Paul Erdos

I think the simpler answer is they didn't invent a practical steam engine.

How new are you defining newer to be? My car is a '96 mazda 626. I have driven around a '68 volvo, with no power steering and that definitely was much easier than my car when the engine dies. Has typical steering setup changed that much since '96? (Legitimately asking the question here, not trying to be rhetorical) Cars have definitely gotten heavier as you say, and volvos have always been on the heavier side.

Eh, my car has a finicky engine and I've learned that it's perfectly drivable without power steering or brakes. I've lost power while taking tight turns, and while it was a bit surprising the first time or two I had no trouble keeping it under control. Unless the driver has significantly less strength than the average person, or is unwilling to drop whatever might be in their off hand to get it too the wheel, I'd say it's more scary than dangerous.

That being said, I certainly wouldn't be happy if my new volvo did that; they should definitely be held to higher standards than my $500 beater.

Not only that, the project had an unprecedented safety record, with many safety measures put in place that went far beyond legal workplace requirements at the time. Also it was completed $1.3 million under budget.

In general I agree with you that prison industrial complex is a huge problem in this country. However, in this case it sounds like they can already afford to be somewhat selective with which inmates they choose, so I'm not too worried they'll jail people so they can get cheap firefighters anytime soon.