From wheels coming off during take-off to doors detaching mid-flight, Boeing planes are in trouble. But perhaps the most troubling aspect of this debacle is the suspicious death of whistleblower John Barnett.
John Barnett's untimely demise on March 9th, occurring mid-deposition in his whistleblower retaliation case against Boeing, raises serious questions about the lengths corporations will go to silence dissent. Barnett, who worked for Boeing for 32 years, told friends “It’s not suicide” just days before his death. This tragic incident shows the dangers of free speech when it matters most, and how corporations will go to any lengths to silence dissent.
It's abundantly clear that Boeing's relentless pursuit of profit has come at the expense of safety and integrity. John Oliver’s segment on Boeing from a few weeks ago details how Boeing, once the top name in air safety in America, went downhill after a merger in 1996. The company McDonnell Douglas was bought by Boeing, but somehow, the leadership of McDonnell Douglas ended up on top.
We must demand immediate action to hold Boeing accountable for its egregious failures and push for comprehensive reforms to prevent future tragedies. At the moment, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg has called for “a serious investigation” into Boeing’s safety concerns, but has yet to comment on John Barnett’s untimely death.
The final piece of this story is about Republicans cutting regulations – as it always seems to be, when something goes seriously wrong in our country. Remember Nikki Haley? While serving on the Boeing board in 2020, Haley helped kill legislation that would ensure Boeing’s disclosure of safety spending – which seems have to hit a minimum in recent years.
Join us in calling for stronger regulations and oversight of Boeing and other corporate giants >>>