It would be great for us, it would be the French subsidizing the US Air Force.
Look, without knowing all the details, obviously it’s hard for you or I to say anything definitive. If Airbus winning the bid is simply because of government subsidies, and Boeing would have won the bid absent that single factor, than Boeing can argument that the US has a legitimate government interest in keeping such a key defense industry thriving within our borders.
I am simply arguing against the populist knee jerk reaction that says to “protect US jobs”, that people should always buy US made products. I say no, because if you buy bad US products, all you’re doing is rewarding bad behaviors, which encourages more bad behavior.
It would be great for us, it would be the French subsidizing the US Air Force.
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LOL Never looked at it like that before!
Look, without knowing all the details, obviously it’s hard for you or I to say anything definitive.
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This is very true, but this blog is, nevertheless, a great place to consider possibilities and share ideas.
Someone I was talking to about this issue recently suggested that I toss this idea out on the table.
President Bush is the one who nominated Sue Payton (probably in good faith)to her post of Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Research and Development in 2006.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sue_C._Payton
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8723
Now maybe Sue Payton also did what she did in good faith - and really does believe that she is getting us the biggest bang for our taxpayer buck.
However, the person I spoke with suggested that perhaps the thing that might be most interesting to watch is where Ms. Payton goes if there is a change in the administration after the 2008 election.
If she gets a nice cushy “consulting” job with EADS/ Airbus, then perhaps we will have been justified in any suspicions that we might have had that the awarding of this contract to EADS/Airbus reeked with corruption.
In any case, Truthsearcher, I still LOVE the idea of the French government subsidizing our military! Too funny! ;-)