Boeing C-17

A few weeks ago there was a news story that Boeing was going to cancel the production of the C-17 airplane, manufactured in Long Beach, CA. The story told about the jobs that would be lost in southern California. Other job losses would come from sub contractors located in 42 states!

The two California senators, Feinstein and Boxer, released statements with the usual sophistry designed to please those affected. I'm sure the senators from the other 41 states with the sub contractors also heard from their constituents about how important the C-17 contract is to the country, even though the Air Force does not want any more C-17 aircraft. I predicted the C-17 program would continue. By subcontracting out work to many other congressional districts, defense contractors like Boeing can bring pressure on congress to force tax payers to pay for something they do not want or need for defense.

Sure enough, the C-17 aircraft production was granted a reprieve. There will be 10 more C-17 produced at a total cost of $2 billion, even if the air force does not want them. The military was out of this legal plunder, though they probably want the $2 billon for another project. What saved the production of the C-17 was the congressional/industrial/labor complex. http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/060922/1350536.html?.v=1

Bilbo Baggins