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?