rssDefense Spending As Stimulus, Part Deux
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 12:48 pm
- 6 Comments
On the heels of Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ (R-Ga.) impassioned plea to Defense Secretary Bob Gates to consider production of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor as part of a responsible stimulus package, check out this Website, passed along by an eagle-eyed friend. It urges readers to send President Obama and Congress this message:
Keeping the production line of this model aerospace program open currently requires no additional taxpayer dollars, and is not a rescue or bailout. Rather, it will allow us to maintain a healthy program that delivers considerable economic benefit while providing our Air Force with appropriate numbers of the best fighter aircraft ever made. Production of this aircraft is in jeopardy—and with it more than 95,000 American jobs, over $12 billion in national economic activity, and the superiority of America’s Air Force.
I don’t know who’s paying for the website, but Lockheed Martin, the main manufacturer of the F-22, is a safe bet. Chambliss certainly knew to cite the “95,000 American jobs” talking point to Gates yesterday. I note as well that Tom Donnelly of the American Enterprise Institute, a former Lockheed Martin official, recently wrote along the same lines, specifically urging Congress and the Pentagon to “maintain F-22 production” as part of a “defense stimulus.” Watch this argument expand in the coming weeks.
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6 Comments
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 11:46 am
This is called “military Keynesianism” and it is one of the GOP's biggest tricks since Nixon and certainly Reagan used it heavily. Something to consider as Boeing considers canning ten thousand workers, and other high tech and technoindustrial segment employers are in the same boat. And these are good paying Union jobs, whether it is SPEEA or Chemicals or Machinists and even Longshoremen, as large components of aircraft are built overseas and shipped to Seattle or Wichita for assembly.
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
Appealing to the US government official for Justice
I am a naturalized citizen of the USA. I do understand that the laws are counting me equal with other citizen in the country. But individuals are not counting me as a full citizen.
I was trying to serve my country the USA who adopted me during the hardest time of my life with wife and two children’s. While I was searching for job in the Army CI department the people interview; I made me look like Osama bin Laden on his paper work.
I was working on the Air force Satellite communications for many years and had security clearance (Secret) and over two years serving military war effort in Iraq. Now they are damaged my security clearance.
The US governments are accusing me to not be good citizen. I went to senator and Congress men; I am told every thing are fine but when I look for Job there are note on my interim security clearance will chase away hiring companies to consider me for the Job for over one year now.
There are no other agencies to go too. The US governments are treating me very bad; I do need help please.
I did write “Policy-designate Michele Flournoy” and asked her to hire me. I am originally from Iraq and lived in Iran’s too. I do understand the culture, religions, political structures inside out about both countries above and want to help her department but there are no way to reach these people in power.
I am writing this and hope that she and others will read my comment and start counting people like me as a citizen. I am the “naturalized citizens” and want the US Government to count me as a full citizen of the USA and give me the chance to serve in this hard time.
I hope she or her subordinate or some other people in the State department or department of defense will read this advertising of myself and will send me an email to offer me a job so I can serve my country the USA.
Thanks for any help you might provide.
Regards,
Hamma Mirwaisi
hmirwaisi@gmail.com
Jan-28-2009
Comment posted January 29, 2009 @ 4:40 am
Lockheed Martin gave Chambliss $47,100 for last November's election. They gave out over $2.5 million to members of congress in 2008. Lockheed is a monster of a company with net income of over $3 billion.
Over the years, Lockheed has made a fortune tweaking the plans for this uber fighter jet. However, doing so has made the cost of the F-22 exceptionally high. While design delays have held-up large scale production of the F-22, a less expensive more advanced replacement has been developed (F-35).
So, at this point it's all about money. It's not about need. It's not about the economy. It's about Loockheed not getting stuck with the development costs. It's about Senators like Chambliss who do what Lockheed asks of them.
Comment posted January 29, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Lockheed Martin gave Chambliss $47,100 for last November's election. They gave out over $2.5 million to members of congress in 2008. Lockheed is a monster of a company with net income of over $3 billion.
Over the years, Lockheed has made a fortune tweaking the plans for this uber fighter jet. However, doing so has made the cost of the F-22 exceptionally high. While design delays have held-up large scale production of the F-22, a less expensive more advanced replacement has been developed (F-35).
So, at this point it's all about money. It's not about need. It's not about the economy. It's about Loockheed not getting stuck with the development costs. It's about Senators like Chambliss who do what Lockheed asks of them.
Pingback posted February 3, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
[...] Spencer Ackerman was all up on this, last [...]
Pingback posted February 21, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
[...] press releases, banner and e-mail ads, a YouTube channel, and by Georgia politicians including Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss and Blue Dog Democratic Representative David Scott. (Georgia is home to the Lockheed assembly plant [...]
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