You’ve had your eyes on Bobbie for a long, long time. Actually, to avoid beating around the bush, you’ve considered her your girl. You’ve bought her flowers, candy, cut the grass at her house, smooched a little. You know how it goes. And then it comes time for the Prom. She needs your help to lobby her dad not only to let her go but to buy that beautiful dress Bobbie has her eyes on. You’ve wooed her, you’ve lobbied him till the cows came home and now it looks like things are finally coming together. And then, without warning, the big day comes, and Bobbie wants to spend Prom night dancing with some other guys.
Well, essentially that is the state of the relationship between Wichita, Kansas and the Boeing aircraft company. That relationship began back in 1929 when Stearman Aircraft of Wichta, Kansas joined Boeing aircraft company. And that has been an ongoing relationship ever since. What is particularly gauling about this particular relationship is that Wichita and Kasas have invested heavily in this relationship. Wichita claims Boeing has received more that $600,000 million in tax breaks to keep their plant in Wichita. Beyond that, in the battle for Boeing to get the new Air Force tanker contract they relied heavily on the Kansas congressional delegation to lobby on their behalf. According to this evening’s news report a Boeing representative had even promised that if they won the contract for this new tanker it would be built in Witchita. Well, Boeing won the contract and now they say they are going to close their Witchita plant. Well South Carolina, let this be a lesson to you.
There are now not three big lies but four: 1. The check’s in the mail. 2. Of course I’ll respect you in the morning…..4. And for sure we’ll keep our plant here to build that plane. Wonder if Wichita at least got a kiss?
And for Boeing, friends come and go but enemies accumulate.
