I do not need to ask questions regarding the conduct of projects within the defense industry. The contracts at Hughes Aerospace, Rockwell, Northrop, MDAC, Boeing, Lockheed, TRW, and, yes, Loral were granted through a political process.
During the late 1990's our area saw massive lay-offs, collapse of defense production lines, and substantial economic downturn at the hands of those who PROFITTED at Loral.
It is not a callous attitude to hold individuals accountable for their poor judgement. I have seen many HIV/AIDS patients who feel they are entitled to government grants and assistance after THEY CHOSE to engage in unsafe sexual practices. I have seen many ABORTIONS under government funding from liberals because they "feel" it is correct.
I have seen a failed President proclaim his innocence while the employees at Loral CHOSE to support his campaign.
Loral employees were bots and they chose to be used in that fashion by their CEO. THEY CHOSE POORLY!
Regarding your assertions regarding Loral.
1. LockMart does not hold majority control of Loral and Bernie-boy was the one who controlled the tech-leaking direction of Loral. Lower-level management and the Board of Directors should have reviewed "Bernie's" ideas, but all utterly failed in their corporate responsibilities. They also compromised our nation due to their "not my responsibility" attitude.
2. Skynet was developed by a different company and was only acquired to "diversify" the finances.
3. Regarding commercial satellite development, the technology used to orbit a satellite is also the technology to drop a warhead on my house! Boeing/Hughes did not go blabbing about third stage orbital insertion mechanics to communists building nuclear missiles. Loral engineers DID!
Lastly, my comments are NOT flippant. I've been watching these guys at Loral compromise our technology since they were posting at sci.space in the early 1990's. When engineers are posting about technology transfer, is there any wonder why Dana R. can run to the floor of the House of Rep's and give voice to these concerns????
Each citizen must take personal responsibility for their deeds. Loral's employees, just like the people at Enron, Arthur Andersen, Worldcom, InClone (and soon to be Pacificare/Wellpoint/and more), failed to do the right thing.
They should have held their officers accountable.
Because you know ALL the facts? I note from your various other postings you like to demand sources and facts from those you disagree with. You seem to be an expert on the military/aerospace industry as well as the medical field, vaccines, oriental politics, what else? Yet you cast accusations at unnamed low-mid level employees without citing a single reference, make many factual errors in your claims, and considering your political leanings, chose to divide the conservative members that I believe you include yourself in the same way I might expect a liberal to do.
It is not a callous attitude to hold individuals accountable for their poor judgement.
Sort of like saying ALL Enron employees were guilty, (I know a few GOOD folks that lost their jobs due to the mismanagement there), or all WorldCom employees knew that skimming was taking place, or all the employees of banks of the S&L scandel knew. How many thousands would you like to see suffer so that you can feel like justice was done when the fat cats got away anyhow? Why would a Loral employee be any more malicious than any other company? BTW Hughes was also charged in the China affair. What is your position wrt that company? Your comparison of an employee who choses a job based on his/her interests, skills and ambitions, location, family obligations, etc, with every intention of following law, to an HIV patient who chooses to engage in unsafe sex is a poor parallel. And I fail to see at all the point wrt to this posting your comment about abortion.
Factual error 1: contracts at Hughes Aerospace, Rockwell, Northrop, MDAC, Boeing, Lockheed, TRW, and, yes, Loral were granted through a political process...
Since pre-1996 when Loral sold off all its interest except its space systems division aquired from Ford Aerospace previously, Loral ceased to be a "defense contractor". The companies contracts were competed and the only govt contact outside of small NASA studies was the GOES weather birds, competitively bid.
2:substantial economic downturn at the hands of those who PROFITTED at Loral.
While no doubt Bernie and a few corporate friends profited, it would be premature to blame any single companies misdealings for an economic downturn.
3:failed President proclaim his innocence while the employees at Loral CHOSE to support his campaign
the CEO yes, employees, some for sure, others definitely not. But again now you condemn some just because of political leanings as opposed to intention illegal activity. Are you a conservative or a fascist? What is the political landscape of any company?
I will sum up all the other inaccuracies by saying that Skynet was aquired from the proceeds of the sale of the Loral defense arm to reposition the company in the commercial market where the corporate thought its profits margins would be better (than the then downsizing defense industry) and because the profits in commercial space turn out to be primarily in the service provider, not the satellite maker. Satellite builder profit margins are very small even in good years. Finally, SS/L is not a launch vehicle manufacturer and the protocol that was broached by 'an individual' no longer employed had nothing to do with rockets/third stage orbit insertion. It had to due with releasing without Govt approval of a failure analysis report of the Long March III failure in Feb 1996. That particular employee was 'removed' shortly following the event and I would blame the then Clinton govt for never prosecuting him. You know a lot less than you think with regard to this.
Blame Clinton/Bernie/greedy wall streeters all you want. Blame the criminals who committed the offense and blame those who failed to prosecute them. Lay off the white and blue collar workers that make up the horsepower that drives the economic engine of this country and want nothing more than what any other patriotic american wants, the opportunity to make the life of his/her family better, the opportunity to contribute to society and country, and the pleasure of doing so at a job you enjoy.
Each citizen must take personal responsibility for their deeds.
If I thought the company I worked for was engaged in illegal activities, particularly where national security was concerned, I'd blow the whistle in a minute. Your insinuation is that patriots like myself who are employed at Loral would not is both slander and insult. But reading some of your previous postings, you seem practiced at it.
I am going to celebrate Independence Day now and I wish you and all a happy and safe weekend. Perhaps, indignation aside, you will find in the future that we do not see that far apart on most issues.
PS - I am guessing by your screen name and other posts that your in the medical field. I just want to say I would never similarly wish your hospital/place of employment is shut down putting hundreds of dedicated medical professionals out of work because a few corporates who run that system live off my tax dollars, medicare, other mismanaged govt spending, etc and manage to 'lose', fail to account for, or bilk the insurance companies for millions every year.