Officials are investigating the circumstances that led to the sinking of a $100 million naval ship that was under the command of a lesbian captain with no previous ship command experience.

The incident is New Zealand’s first naval loss since World War II.

If the assumption is correct, it speaks for itself. But even if it is incorrect, and the ship was lost for reasons other than incompetence, how did we get to the point that such assumptions seem reasonable?

How did we get to the point that responsibility for a multi-million dollar ship, and all aboard, would be given to someone who was not qualified, on the basis of irrelevant criteria?

How did we get to the point that a warship meant to survive enemy missiles and gunfire could not survive an ordinary sea voyage?

How did we get to the point that a naval vessel meant for war was less safe than the Staten Island Ferry?