RIDING ON HALE-BOPP’S TAIL

A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE IS A GROSS UNDER ESTIMATION!
MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE OR SUSPECT OTHERS’ DISHONESTY

Over a decade ago a new comet was discovered and named Hale-Bopp after the individuals who first brought it to the world’s attention. Phenomenons from space usually garner world wide interest and all types take notice.

One group who called themselves Heaven’s Gate saw the comet’s coming as a sign that the earth was about to be ‘recycled’ or destroyed and took action. In 1997 when the comet drew close with a unique tail made up of dust, gases and sodium, the cult dressed up in jump suits, black and white Nikes and prepared to hitch a ride on the comet’s tail away from earth.

Apparently this required them to commit suicide by drinking a Phenobarbital vodka drink and somehow beam themselves up to meet the comet. I wonder how that all worked out for them?

Anyway, we are a world that believes in all kinds of different stuff.

Yes, there are crazies out there but there are also very persuasive individuals who can talk anyone into anything. Bernie Madoff talked some of the most sophisticated, rich and financially astute people out of 50 billion dollars and never invested a dime of it. Not even the SEC seemed aware of his charade. How can that happen?

People want to believe the apparent good works of others and everyone likes a successful investor with fantastic returns. We all are a little greedy and this causes us to look beyond our own common sense.

Every day another scheme is uncovered and we all marvel at the stupidity of our fellow human beings, thinking that no one could pull the wool over our eyes. You want to bet?!

It has been happening to Delta employees for years and no one seems to mind or even raise a voice. We act like sheep every time another new CEO graces us with his presence and takes us for a financial screwing. We roll over and act as if we are powerless and the actions are inevitable.

Richard Anderson is only the latest ‘come and go’ executive to visit us with promises and talk about how wonderful we are. Millions upon millions of dollars of our pay cuts and benefit reductions have gone directly in to his pockets. We say nothing and wait for our ‘industry standard pay,’ while his cronies fatten their own wallets with bonuses and retention pay incentives.

You know, we kind of deserve what is happening to us because of our lack of action and organization; we wait for justice instead of demanding fairness and even handedness. We lack spine.

We have choices; we can wait and hope that we are ultimately taken to a place atop the industry in our benefit and pay package, which is as likely to happen as a comet returning and hitching us a ride to happier life, or we can take matters into our own hands by having the IAM do the negotiating for us. The choice is easy for me and hopefully should be for all of us. Hoping, waiting and wishing for good and happy endings is not a strategy, not one that pays, anyway.

Let’s don’t be one of those ‘suckers’ born every minute. It is time for action. It’s time for the IAM.