What if ? If it is a sophisticated spy balloon it could have a self destruct mode to all data and equipment upon being shot down. Without a doubt the data has already been transmitted. We may gain more intelligence by leaving it intact and monitoring. Worse yet what if a self destruct mode releases who knows what in the process. I feel better when someone looks before they leap.

If the Russian had launched this balloon it would have been downed 10 miles off shore.

"It's harmless where it is ..."

"Where it is" is optimum for EMP detonation.

It may be headed to a state near you, Florida. I’ve looked at the current path.

What if it has an atom bomb on board or biological warfare? It’s ours now.

Not following the jet stream but operating under its own guidance system

Yeah and maybe it wants a shot at areas along the east coast. Creepy, eh?

another Chinese balloon is passing over Latin America!

Consider what is being said. A balloon the size of 3 buses with no visible evidence of propulsion, being able to guide itself across the country. No motors, no fuel and claimed to be able defy the jet stream. If that is true, there is some technology at play that would certainly be worth getting for a closer look.

Our military certainly has capability to observe the balloon, heat signature, movements verse wind direction. They could easily determine difference from weather balloons.

Bound to be more than we are being told.

It was over Montana and South Dakota! You could drop Rhode Island there and not hit anything...

The Big Pond No More
 

The Big Ponds which one time protected is suddenly isn’t so big anymore! Where was the surveillance while it was over the ocean?

Agree completely. The dumb jokes are a symptom of widespread apathy towards what is happening to our country. Our nation is in decay, morally and spiritually. The joke is on us.

Balloon
 

That's one solution, but I believe strafing it with few rounds from a 50 cal would even be better. My question would be why would China launch this object from their country, and for some stroke of luck, it gets blown into U.S. territory and into Canada? Why not Mexico or some of the EU countries? No, this isn't a mistake of the winds, it's China up to some nefarious activity. Correct me if I'm wrong, but no other country reported its' presence. How could that possibly be, considering the thousands of miles it needed to travel to get here?

It is absolutely embarrassing that we allow the Chinese to get away with. What do you think they were done with our balloon over Chinese ground. But here we just let it continue to fly on by unbelievable what they allow

The path can be altered with a stroke of a sharpie.