Slump in Plane Travels Grounds Wichita

The NY Times ^ | 041603 | Peter Kilborn

[Archangelsk]

It's perception that caused the first Bush to lose the 1992 election. Perception is always the key. If you doubt it, go back to 1960 when perception "earned" JFK the presidency, and, in my opinion, the beginning of the decline of traditional American values.

[ml/nj]

It's not our fault that we lost our jobs, what the terrorists did.

It wasn't terrorists. It was lawyers.

The companies in Wichita build General Aviation aircraft. If anything, these have become more desirable after 9/11. But lawyers sent General Aviation into the tank years ago with their insane liability suits. (E.g. Guy flies into mountain and dies. Wife sues Cessna, because there was no warning to wear shoulder belts on the instrument panel of the plane, and collects. Cessna doubles prices. Sales - and jobs - vanish.)

This guy need to find a lawyer and give him a piece of his mind. And let the lawyer take care of him. He's rich.

ML/NJ

[annyokie]

When my first husband was employed by ITT-Federal Electric, at Vandenburg AFB, many of my friends worked for Boeing. Boeing would do lay-offs every six-eight months and they would all go to work for what ever the other aircraft manufacturer was until they were rehired by Boeing. It was a regular deal that went on for ten years.

Same deal with the guys who worked for Brown, that were building Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. On for six weeks; off for six weeks.

Walmart doesn't give a rat's *ss how long you are on board. The pool is deep.

[SoDak]

Wow, you're totally on. It's not my responsibility to make sure they are solvent when it's clear they've been overliving their finances. How can you make as much as they have and not be ready to live through a spot of trouble? Cut up the d@mned credit cards, buy a used car and stop whining already.

[1066AD]

We share much in common with these folks and, as I said up top, the President and Rove neglects them at their own risk.
Agree 100%. Similar situation, different industry group here. I think the implication in the article was along the lines of "charity begins at home".

[annyokie]

Thank you! Our car, truck, and boat are PAID FOR. Who cares if they are a decade old?

[Trust but Verify]

You are obviously under the impression there is anything Bush and Rove & Co. can do for the Salters and others in their position. Even if they could 'do something' (which I think is silly) the Dems are going to block it every way they can. The thing they cannot afford is having the economy come back before 2004.

Let me share a little something with you. My husband and I not only work in the same industry, we work for the same company. That is how we met and in our low 40's we are both approaching 25 years with the company. We make 110K/year and live accordingly. If things go bad, we could be in the same position as the Salters. And let me assure you if this happens, I will not sit around and whine "President Bush needs to do something about this!"

[SoDak]

Same with my 98 Jeep. Before that I drove a 79 Dodge into the ground, putting 277,000 miles and 21 years on it.

[RAT Patrol]

Because you are good people who believe in freedom AND responsibility.

[SoDak]

If my sister or her hubby, on the other hand, lose a job, they'll be in bankruptcy court with 2 months, and probably saying the same thing as the Salters. They make easily double what I make but live like there is no tomorrow. And yes, they vote rat.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You are smiling now, but nobody is beyond God's sovereign control of affairs, not even you. Never go bankrupt? You could be one cell's genetic mutation away from that possibility.

[annyokie]

Good on you! I sold cars for years to put myself through college, and I figure I can't see it when I'm driving it, so what do I care? They get me where I'm going and neither has more than 40K miles on them! I'm not sure about the hours on the boat motor!

[Archangelsk]

Let me share a little something with you. My husband and I not only work in the same industry, we work for the same company. That is how we met and in our low 40's we are both approaching 25 years with the company. We make 110K/year and live accordingly. If things go bad, we could be in the same position as the Salters. And let me assure you if this happens, I will not sit around and whine "President Bush needs to do something about this!"

Damn, everyone is missing the point here. If the Salters are saying this, how many others are? She identified the President specifically, and I guaran-damn-tee that she is voicing the opinion of many.

Now forget about he nebulous nine Democratic candidates and think about the worst nightmare that could happen to this country. Is that firmly in your minds or do I have to say it?

[El Gato]

The Salters need to suck it up and go to work at Walmart for the time being.

I seriously doubt WalMart has any openings in the greater Witchita area at the moment. What they really need to do, and it's hard, is to move where there are at least some jobs. Given the growth in local school district enrollments, twice what was expected according to a report on the radio today, somebody or several somebodies, in San Antonio are hiring. Probably not $20+/hour, but then again housing and other living expenses are lower here also. BTW, I think a $187,000 house in ex-urban Withchita must have been fairly upscale, which probably makes it that much harder to sell in the current market.

[annyokie]

Anything is possible, of course. But I have planned accordingly. It's called savings.

[Trust but Verify]

I understand your point, but what is there for Bush to do about these 'perceptions'?

There is a wise saying, "you can't reason someone out of something they haven't reasoned themselves into."

[HiTech RedNeck]

Couple of things which are guaranteed to come up is, why are we letting illegal Mexican aliens drain the country dry? Why are we so cavalier about enriching the Chicom gummint at the cost of our domestic labor? These are both areas in which the GOP is doing poorly.

[ARCADIA]

They probably took out a second mortgage in an attempt to survive the layoff. They may be paying off more then one loan.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You can not plan for all eventualities. It's called humility.