Good riddance to Boeing

Boeing can be called many things, but “great corporate citizen” isn’t one of them, whatever marketing consultant Paul O’Connor may think. Has he already forgotten how Boeing’s flawed, corner-cutting design for its 737 Max jet led to the deaths of over 300 people and how the company initially blamed the pilots?

For most of its history, Boeing was based in Seattle, the site of its major manufacturing facilities. Senior executives left that city some 20 years ago. They shopped around for a new location, finally accepting the rich incentives offered by Chicago. But what goes around comes around. Having used up its corporate welfare package, Boeing is now moving its HQ to Arlington, Virginia, at the heart of the military-industrial complex, leaving Chicago high and dry.

O’Connor says he felt a pang of sadness upon hearing of Boeing’s exit. I think it’s good riddance to a bad actor.

Hugh Iglarsh, Skokie