Cog in the machine...

From Mark McCormick's "Where did Wichita leaders go?" essay in Wednesday's Eagle

     Somewhere in one of our public buildings, a microphone stands silent.
     It's probably reminiscing about its glory days -- the February morning when politicians worked it the way high-heeled dancers work the performance poles at a strip club.
     Man, what a difference three months and a few hundred layoffs can make.
     In February, when the national media descended on Wichita for the announcement that police had collared the man they believed to be the BTK Strangler, no microphone in the 316 area code was safe.
     But today, in the face of cold-blooded layoffs at the Boeing Wichita plant, those same microphones seem to have taken on the properties of Kryptonite.
     I'm talking about the mayor, council members and every other non-law-enforcement official who saw a publicity opportunity at the BTK news conference, but today has a horrible case of laryngitis...

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From Randy Schofield's "Dear Boeing/Onex CEOs: You're fired!" editorial in Friday's Eagle

Dear valued Boeing/Onex executive:
     We appreciate the many years that you have faithfully served your respective companies in corporate management.
     But we regret to inform you that you will not be offered employment after the Boeing/Onex sale is completed.
     In fact, the board of directors has decided that the entire top management of both companies should be canned, effective immediately.
     Do not report for work Monday. Your office has been locked and shuttered, and security officers have been given instructions to Taser you on sight.
     In a fairer world, we would have liked to deliver this discouraging news in person.
     Then again, that is the beauty of globalization -- this letter is a lot easier.
     It is only fair that we explain the rationale for these terminations (that's more than you gave Boeing workers, right?)...

-- Bill, who's glad The Liberal Press _finally_ showed up...