Legitimate Rape

Todd Akin

There are many instances of rape, deemed legitimate, taking place every day.  

The definition of rape is "to seize and take away by force" - not necessarily sexual as Todd indicated.  I would like to point out a couple of instances of this event occurring in our country and, of course, it is all perfectly, legitimately legal.  A good example is the ever increasing operation of corporate and wealthy folks - with the help of our Grand Old Party in congress, against presently unemployed and employed workers, despite their living standard; middle class, poor, destitute, etc.  And that is rejecting or lowering workers benefits, income and, probably most important to consumers, negative impact on workers morale. 

Morale is defined as "the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand."  The degree of morale, whether low or high, is greatly determined on how a worker is treated by his or her superiors and the company as a whole.  In the past, when Boeing workers were made to feel part of the "Boeing Family", morale was very high. Now, not so much...

Wally J. McNerney

The best example in our location is the recent events of the Boeing company CEO and his executive team, events obviously approved by the company's board of directors. The job of the CEO, and his executive team, along with the board of directors is to help guide a company to it's most profitable position.  In most cases, the board of directors is comprised of wealthy individuals, mostly CEO's and ex-CEO's who basically have the same goal in mind; the accumulation of more personal wealth. I didn't look up the board members salary's but you can bet they don't come cheap, and there are eleven members!.  Apparently, the present CEO and the boards' decisions are increasingly short-term; using the most immediate method to obtain maximum profit.  Longer terms of company success probably will not be considered until things start going down-hill which, most likely, will be when most of the present board members are comfortably retired and receiving very large pensions along with free, first-rate medical insurance, etc. 

It has become apparent that, evident in Boeing's case, a corporation will behave like an acquisition company - stripping pension plans, reducing negotiated benefits, laying off workers, outsourcing work and resources to other areas.  The present Boeing executive team has accomplished, mainly through deceptive and bully-like leveraging methods, all items mentioned.  

About a month ago, Herald writer Dan Catchpole quotes Richard Aboulafia, an analyst speaking at the annual Pacific Northwest aerospace conference:  

"Boeing's efforts to drive down labor and supplier costs might yield short-term savings but could also have a down side, including missed opportunities for innovation by shop-floor workers who might now be disinclined to help the company improve factory efficiency.  Boy, that seems foolish." 

Many years ago when I worked for the Boeing Company, we were shown a motivational film staring Seahawk Steve Largent.  His closing statement about flying:  "If it's not Boeing, I ain't going!"  

With the present scenario - a problematic, continuously patched-up 787  Dreamliner and newer, cramped versions of present Boeing models, along with a disappointed, demotivated work force  - Do you think Steve would still feel the same?

Wally's World (The Wally and Ray Show)

Boeing CEO Wally J. McNerney

Obviously, Wally J. McNerney's world is one of arrogance, greed and a strong feeling of disdain for the Boeing workforce.  Of course, he is not alone - many corporate executives feel and act much the same - doing all they can, not so much for their stockholders as for themselves; to accumulate wealth and live the "high life" at the expense of their stockholders and the very workers who have enabled them gain those beloved material treasures. These folks rise to the top of their corporation much like the scum rising to the surface of an open cesspool. To me, these types of greedy individuals are the scum-of-the-earth; disparaging and demotivating people who's labor has made them successful. There are many corporation executives that this description fits to a T.  

Fitting that mold are top Boeing company executives Wally and Ray who have both received massive pay raises and benefits the past several years.  Not only have these two (as well other, too many to count {or need}, Boeing executives) received a tremendous amount of extra pay but most likely their pension and medical plans are intact and will provide an exceptional safety-net for them and their families in future years.  Further proof that the corporate "Good old Boy" network is still in full swing.

Of course, the reason they get those massive raises is because the Boeing labor force, both hourly and salaried, fixed many the f-ups that these not-so-worthy executives caused by outsourcing design and physical work on the 787, including the 787 low-productive, token plant in "right-to-work" South Carolina.  Their reward to the labor force (who have continuously saved their butts) is to discontinue the worker's pension plan as well as decrease medical benefits and minimize future raises. Thank you very much filthy-rich, scummy people!  By the way, there are many who feel that the 787 problems are still a work in progress.

Of course, there is the well publicized, "massive $10,000 signing bonus" but that represents less than two years of pension payments for those before the cut-off date or new-hires who won't even be getting the bonus!  Most of the union members getting the signing bonus will still get pensions. The new-hires will be getting what is commonly known as the "Bone-us".  A thing that Wally and Ray (and the board of trustees) seem to enjoy doing to the Boeing workforce.  

As we all know, these scum guys have used area job leverage to manipulate the state government to provide Boeing an essentially "Tax-free" environment and, as mentioned, eliminate the employee pension plan and reduce other benefits which has the desired effect of reducing the effectiveness of unions - a plan the GOP has supported for many years.  Having a "right-to-work" state is uppermost on the GOP's and Wally's World's lists but, in reality, a right-to-work state doesn't mean you can always get work as implied, it really means a "right to work for whatever they want to pay you state".  During these times, while you are trying to make ends meet and provide for your family as your hard-earned benefits are slowly disappearing, keep that in mind the next time you vote.

Yes, it's true - the union majority essentially voted to save their own jobs, with the side benefit of increasing other work in the area, which is commendable. However, the summary of this latest, demeaning of the Boeing workforce event is the enhancement of the ever increasing income disparity between the wealthy and everyone else.  The main problem is, of course, is that there is not much we can do about it since both our state and federal governments seems to support, and many times take part in, said disparity.  Most members of congress and the senate are millionaires with very secure retirement benefits so it's, "What, me worry?  I think not..." 

Sadly, you can bet that our representatives,both state and federal, won't say much about this part of the conversation, only that "the union workforce made the decision to save jobs" - which, of course, is true but far from the complete story.

Boeing executives make the big bucks...

Haven't posted for awhile but couldn't let this one pass

Thanks for a job well done?

 The new contract offered to union Boeing workers is obviously a very thin veil of intent to move the company, division at a time, to a "Right to Work for what the Corporation is Willing to give us State".
In other words, a non-union state.

2012 executive compensation was increased from 2011, mainly due to the excellent work accomplished by both salaried and hourly union personnel, by a whopping 54.44 percent! This is only part of the pay increases - the main executives not counting probably 100 or so "junior executives". The poor decisions of the executives, especially in the design and problematic out-sourcing construction of the 787, had no marked negative effect in terms of massive pay raises. By the way, union workers corrected many of the 787 problems - thank you very much...

Just considering the Boeing Company CEO, a recorded compensation raise of roughly 20%, from $22,958,000 to $27,484,000 was awarded. He had a take-home pay of over $20,000,000 for a job well done. Congrats!

In light of this, and other massive increases in executive salaries, the same group of guys are offering to dispense with the workers pension plan, offer practically no wage increases (1% every other year) and other significant reductions in benefits. I was a Boeing Company manager for many years and I can certainly see the insult proposed to the amazing Boeing workforce I was honored to work with, and I am also certain upper management sees it and intended it that way as well.

The union workers voted an appropriate No to the contract proposal and the Boeing Company, which used to proudly call itself "The Boeing Family" will most likely pull up stakes in an effort to blame and diminish the union and further increase executive compensation. Local economy effects are of no concern to these guys; that seems to be the corporate way of conducting business.

A Revolution?

As with most revolutions in history, presently there is a long-awaited revolution occurring in our country - and around the world - against greed, corporate and government corruption, discrimination (on all levels), eroding personal rights and income inequality.
At present, the revolution is organized as demonstrations and - other one recorded death in the USA and possibly several injuries resulting from pepper spray and infrequent (but ever-present possibility of) police brutality - is essentially non-violent.  Granted, however, that there will always be troublemakers that will put the entire demonstration group in harm's way.

The current opposition to the status  quo of excessive executive bonuses of so-called public corporations, as shown by the recent Citibank stockholder vote against excessive executive bonuses, is an important step of a revolution that will possibly evolve into a full-scale conflict as opposition to change and resulting frustrations increases.

Here's a video from MSNBC taken at the very start of the Occupy Movement in the USA - can you see where this is may be going?

Woman's Health Panel

Contraception means more to most women than simply having sex without getting pregnant. Well documented, "the pill" can also help control many other medical ailments for women.

The right to contraception has been made a rather large issue amongst republicans looking for anything to give them leverage to regain power. Don't be fooled by the kangaroo panels, irate bishops, etc. they are a ploy to convince you to be one-sided on this issue. Republican senator Issa created a shock wave by convening an all-male panel to discuss woman's health issues and, if you are a woman, would you put your health welfare into these guy's hands?

Vote Republican? I think not.....

Justice for all.

An appropriate petition to president Obama:

"We, the undersigned, feel that at the beginning of your administration, you provided what we consider a "blanket pardon" to members of the Bush Administration for the reason of "moving our country forward". In doing that, you neglected to expose many acts of possible wrong-doing by members of the administration who had conducted and/or advised President Bush on many items including waging a war against a sovereign nation without proof that a significant "clear and present danger" to the United States or it's allies existed. The result of this single act mentioned resulted in massive destruction and wastefulness including the death and/or maiming of several thousand American military and support personnel, Iraqi civilians and the purposeful destruction of much of the Iraqi infrastructure. The war event and several other possible crimes must be investigated and individuals involved, no matter how highly placed in the administration, must also be investigated and, if criminal activity evidence is found, charged and answer for criminal activities proven, including war crimes, performed during their tenure in the Bush administration. We realize that investigations will be very expensive but feel that the American way of decency and "Freedom and Justice for all" must be preserved and protected at any cost. Thank you for reading our letter."


Click or paste to sign petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-justice-prevail/

America's laughing-stock

The Supreme Court?

How about if we call it The Special - interest Court? I believe that would be much more accurate than the given name.
Actually, we shouldn't call the members Judges - how about "Protected Lobbyists" - just to be more accurate?

My favorite part of President Obama's 2010 State-of-the-Union speech was when the president confronted them for essentially opening the flood gates to establish unlimited, undocumented political contributions from corporations and special interests, both foreign and domestic.

I watched Sam Alito shaking his rather inflated head as the president spoke about their horrific decision. I was proud of Obama and enjoyed watching the "Justices" obvious uneasiness as he spoke.


The Supreme Court is, in reality, A Supreme Joke.

President Obama - you will need a much bigger stick for your 2nd term.