73 Comments
User's avatar
VALERIE MELUSKEY's avatar

Thank you Judd for being able to find and then share all of these facts about Boeing's "business" operations. I have always intuitively known that Boeing was at grievous fault. I have warned my daughter who flies frequently to oversee operations for her company in another state to avoid flying in a Boeing 737. Thankfully, she has been safe the past few years.

How can this be that "Boeing is not struggling with demand but with the ability to safely produce planes!"? The answer: Trump's disregard for human life where profit is involved.

Expand full comment
Edward G. Bryant's avatar

"The answer: Trump's disregard for human life where profit is involved."

Indeed; this is obvious to anyone paying attention to Trump's actions and history... sadly, 77 million Americans were either ignorant of, or as psychologically damaged as, the man they voted for.

Expand full comment
Katy Bolger's avatar

Or, both.

Expand full comment
Marliss Desens's avatar

Or they stayed home and didn't vote at all.

Or they voted for a third-party candidate to "send a message."

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

Ms. Desens, the largest political party in this country is that group of eligible voters who do not vote. This tells us a great deal about the failings of BOTH political parties, don't you think?

Expand full comment
Marliss Desens's avatar

But the Republicans went out and grabbed some of those voters, while the Democrats did not make the effort.

Expand full comment
NubbyShober's avatar

The purpose of the fines levied--and now apparently forgiven--against Boeing were not only for justice, but to give Boeing's Wall Street managerial leadership a sharp crack on the head to--hopefully--get them to clean up their collective act, and get out of the way to let Boeing's engineers safely design and build their planes.

The Wall Street suits that currently run Boeing are always looking for new ways to cut corners and thus juice profits. To reward their criminal malfeasance with not only no fines--but billions in fresh business--will only encourage more criminality.

Expand full comment
Henry's avatar

Amazingly despicable...No nne should fly on any Boeing aircraft until the company is reorganized and and those guilty of risk taking are again put up for prosecution...in a perfect world. We have the technology and the know how but refuse to use it.

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

Henry, the sole purpose of capitalism is to increase the profits of corporate owners. This is according to Nobel laureate Milton Friedman. Such is life in a capitalist economy.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Devine's avatar

So are you suggesting that with embracing capitalism, there is NO accountability within a capitalist economy? How “trumpian” of you. Suggests that capitalism leads to a very sociopathic society, with no conscience or consequences. Perhaps with America’s pursuit of capitalism, we’ve gone a bridge too far? Some decisions within our judicial system recently, might suggest that as well, but you appear rather blasé about it?

Expand full comment
Joseph Mangano's avatar

So, Boeing can't consistently keep its planes in the sky, yet Trump & Co. will keep the company from crashing. Outstanding stuff.

Expand full comment
Robot Bender's avatar

Boeing is a huge defense contractor and a pillar of the economy. They wouldn't be allowed to "crash" in any sense of the word. Their upper management and any employee personally involved with MCAS who knew should be criminally charged, though.

Expand full comment
Eddie's avatar

In 47world, justice is simply---"Don't worry. I know a guy".

Expand full comment
Robert's avatar

Judd, Thank you for reporting the criminal and moral lacking in these soulless beings. There seems to be two sets of laws one for the rich and one for everyone else. Judd, keep letting the light in these cracks will keep getting larger every time you write.

Expand full comment
Bill Wilson's avatar

The U.S. Government has always balanced on the fine line of enabling a productive state that protects the citizens from the ruling elite or enable the class to plunder the rest of the citizens. The Trump administration supports and encourages predatory governance focused on oppression of the rule of law which allows wealth and power to steal the lives and wealth of the citizens.

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

Mr. Wilson, I appreciate what you claim when you say "...always balanced on a fine line..." However, let us not forget this country displayed the most cruel, massive form of chattel slavery in history. How fine is that line? How well balanced have we been?

Expand full comment
SeekingReason's avatar

To be honest, I don’t really need to hear one more story about criminal republican cabal & it’s convicted orange felon! Get that son of bitch out of our White House! The longer we wait the longer it will take to start undoing some of the atrocious damage these republican monsters are inflicting. The entire REPUBLICAN party must be held responsible! But the psychopath & 2025 authors must serve time in prison.

Expand full comment
Adam's avatar

Agreed.

Expand full comment
Marliss Desens's avatar

We can only get him out if Democrats overwhelmingly are elected to the House and Senate. The current Republicans in Congress are complicit.

Expand full comment
celeste k.'s avatar

it's always trump behind the wheel of the worst corruption. Despicable excuse for a human.

Expand full comment
JDinTX's avatar

If memory serves, I recall a meeting in the Oval Office between chump and the Boeing head honcho in 2017. I thought at the time that it was a disaster in the making. Boeing sold their reputation and put the lives of untold passengers at risk. I’m old and will never fly again. But I fear for anyone who does. Those dead passengers will be joined by many more, and the perps will waltz away with nary a scratch.

Expand full comment
SeekingReason's avatar

JDinTX-So far we have been forced to watch one corrupted criminal act after another. We need to be more like MAGAts in protecting our rights from these Fascists. It seems the military doesn’t take they pledge to protect us from the enemy within very seriously…just a phrase.

Expand full comment
JDinTX's avatar

You are so right, I have watched this with such trepidation. Bill Moyers warned as Rupert and repubs took over more communication outlets than had previously been allowed. They had precious little push back. The brazenness increased and the opposition faded. What now…. I hate to mull the possibilities

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

SeekingReason, according to President Eisenhower, a former general, the military is itself potentially part of the "enemy within." Remember his "Military-Industrial Complex" warning?

I should add the experience of other countries wherein the military "intervened" to "protect" the citizens, usually at the connivance of the American CIA:

Guatemala....1954

Cuba....1953, 1959, 1961

Haiti....1991, 1994

Dominican republic....1961, 1965

Venezuela....2002, 2019

Brazil....1964

Paraguay....1954, 1989

Uruguay....1973

Argentina.... 1976

Chile....1964, 1973

Bolivia....1971, 2019

Peru....1963, 1990

Costa Rica....1948

El Salvador....1979

Nicaragua....1979, 1981

Honduras.... 1988, 2009

Such "interventions" end up badly for citizens.

Expand full comment
SeekingReason's avatar

Gerald, So true. The deadly damage done by our CIA is widespread. Removal of democratically elected leaders in these countries is disgraceful but not taught or advertised much. I want to hope enough of our military won’t comply with unconstitutional orders, but it can’t be counted on either. Very frightening. I sometimes give a little history lesson to people who scream about a number of Venezuelans & Guatemalan immigrants in my area of Chicago. They should get automatic refugee status, not get yelled at.

Expand full comment
Karen's avatar

Buy your red hot Justice here!! Huge sale!! $one billion buys hundreds of lives!! Hurry! Sale ends in three years! Save now!!

Brought to you by Trump’s Grift America and to hell with people campaign

Expand full comment
Barry Lockard's avatar

The Boeing scandal and the decimation of the ranks of air traffic controllers have led me to refuse to travel anywhere by air. That might not be possible for everyone, of course, but I have made that resolve as a matter of principle. Any corporation that causes mass death as Boeing did should have its corporate charter revoked. If people die because of corporate crimes, then so should corporations.

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

Mr. Lockard, you are absolutely correct. You might want to include those corporate-owned newspapers and radio and TV networks, and Hollywood production companies.

Expand full comment
Mike McCabe's avatar

I can pretty much guarantee a lot more than just $1 million for the inauguration went in Trump’s direction.

Expand full comment
Leigh Woodward's avatar

Boeing is emblematic of the rot within

Expand full comment
Becky Daiss's avatar

That is the way of the world. People like George Floyd get harassed daily and locked up routinely for petty infractions for being a big black man who frightens the entitled white boys. Entitled white men like Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg get away with murder and lots of money. This is the world the trump regime is fighting to preserve.

Expand full comment
gerald f dobbertin's avatar

Ms. Daiss, unfortunately too many White citizens turn a blind eye or agree with the biased, unfair treatment of Black citizens. This is why there are so any George Floyds. Having said that, I am old enough to see that it is not quite as bad in my children's generation as it was when I was a young social caseworker in 1960s Detroit. Our country is getting more polarized, it is true; however...."The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." How many can be converted? How many Martin Luther Kings must we produce?

Expand full comment
Joe Weicher's avatar

This kind of corruption, a Trump specialty, can cost lives.

Expand full comment
Hannah's avatar

Great job of putting this information in order. I don't understand how a judge has to approve the deal if the DOJ has already made it.

Anyone?

Expand full comment
Jean in Florida's avatar

Just a guess on my part, but Boeing was still in the three year probationary period of their agreement with the Department of Justice ruling to avoid criminal prosecution.

Expand full comment
Hannah's avatar

Thanks. I read it again. This is part of a status agreement filed with the court.

Expand full comment