DOD: Poor people are security risk.

[GoBlue]

Read it and weep.

Government Considers Lockheed Martin Janitor a Security Risk Because of His Financial Struggle
By Michael Rubinkam Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 6, 2003

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - In 19 years of using his security clearance to sweep floors at a plant owned by defense contractor Lockheed Martin, janitor Michael Lynch has done nothing to arouse suspicion.
Co-workers and bosses speak glowingly of Lynch, a brain-tumor survivor who's active in his church, building homes for poor people in Maine and West Virginia.

But because he and his family have struggled financially, the government now sees him as a threat to national security. Defense Department officials believe the janitor may be tempted to sell government secrets to get out of debt.

Last month, they asked a judge to revoke Lynch's security clearance.

Lynch, who considers himself a patriotic American, is fighting back. His lawyer calls the government's actions "outrageous" and asked Administrative Judge James A. Young to allow Lynch to keep his clearance. A decision is expected by Labor Day.

Although Lockheed has promised Lynch a job even if he loses the clearance, "It's a matter of pride for him," said his attorney, James Katz. "The notion that this individual would pose a security threat is just extraordinary to me."

The Defense Department didn't respond to a request for comment.

"Mr. Lynch has been here for many years. He's been a dedicated employee and that's something we recognize," Lockheed spokesman Ken Ross said.

Lynch's troubles began shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, when an official reviewing Lynch's security clearance began raising questions about a 1993 bankruptcy, an unpaid tax bill and some discrepancies on paperwork that Lynch filled out in 1999.

By January of this year, the department ...



http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA51QQC1JD.html

[Corgigal]

1. OMG

Financial troubles aren't a security risk but greed is. Also see: Bush family and the Saudi royal family.

[joeunderdog]

32. Yes, but the CIA found mops in Al Queda cells.

Not only is this guy a security risk, but there is evidence of soap scum in a high-ranking official's bathroom.

[goforit]

40. LOL!!!.........Mr. Clean a terrorist????.....God forbid, Rummy!!!!

Tooo Funny !!!

But so sad!!!

[DBoon]

38. But greed is an All American value!

You'd have to yank the clearance of every Republican then.

[htuttle]

2. Now that sounds familiar

That's why I got booted out of the Air Force a few decades ago. Student loan in default -> loss of security clearance -> offer to get a GD, or change jobs to something really boring. I left instead of starting a career manning a desk in the hanger.

Their loss.

[Aristus]

3. God, these guys are shameless.

When will they realize that the poor outnumber the rich?

Can you say 'French Revolution'?

[FiveGoodMen]

66. The question is...

...when will the poor realize that they outnumber the rich and start voting in their own interests?

[TankLV]

90. Or, more hopefully, ACTING in their self interest!

One more disgusting thing after another. Every farking day since they stole OUR White House. Every Farking Day!

[NashVegas]

4. LMAO

So give the guy a FUCKING RAISE.

[salin]

9. My thought exactly

Has financial troubles.... but has worked at LHM for 19 years... er... are they setting themselves up with this silliness? Think about it. People you pay low, low wages to, even if they have worked for you for a long time, are going to be more prone to financial problems (directly related, of course, to the low, low wages you pay). Sooner or later who is going to do these jobs at the facilities needed clearance? Who is going to wash the dishes in the company cafeteria? Are they going to create a "cooperative" where groups of engineers with clearance have to take on these responsibilities? OF course not. So???

[Mel]

12. I hear ya

pretty damn simple isn't it? What a bunch of bum heads!

Crisco for labor secretary? :-)

[MacCovern]

67. He Makes Good Money....

for pushing a broom anyway.

I think the article said he makes $16.85 an hour, and Lockheed
said they will keep him on even if he loses his security clearance.
They'll just find another job for him.

My job is ending in a few more months, and $16.85 an hour will
sound even better when I'm unemployed!

In this case, I think Lockheed Martin is being a very loyal employer.

[maxanne]

70. he makes

16.85 an hour after 19 years? BFD

How much does the CEO make?

When do we build the guillotines??

[Redleg]

82. A loyal employer? Are you kidding me?

This is class warfare on the working class- if we aren't well-to-do bigwigs we will sell our country down the river. That's a bunch of bullshit.

[MacCovern]

87. Yes, a very loyal employer.....

and I'm sure Mr. Lynch would agree with me.

Let's remember, it's the GOVERNMENT that is attempting to
get rid of his security clearance, NOT Lockheed Martin.

It is the ZERO TOLERANCE policy of the government that is
causing the entire situation. Instead of looking at the
situation and using common sense, bureaucrats are taking
the easy way out and going strictly by the book.

If you don't think Lockheed is being loyal, then tell us why.

[Redleg]

88. Confidential, secret, and top secret files are to be kept locked

in an appropriate safe or cabinet and not left laying around so a janitor or other unauthorized person can get them or copy them. If Lockheed Marting were loyal they would fight to keep this guy in his job (and give him a raise) rather than let the DOD dick him around.

[shanti]

93. sorry to hear that

i'm in the same boat

[Unknown Known]

5. Two words -

CLASS WARFARE

[demnan]

6. The Defense Department here is being damn stupid as well as

unusually cruel.

It's not financial struggle that makes a security risk, it's the danger that a person who has access to classified materials may be bribed through greed to trade these classified materials for money. Look, how many classified materials do you think this guy is exposed to?

So he sweeps a floor in a SCIF or something, even in a secured area the employee responsible for the classified information have to keep that information either supervised or locked up. It is the responsibility of those employees who are the professionals to assure that information is secured. You don't give janitors access to combinations to secret safes or access to secret Internet.

Over-scrutiny of a non-professional type is purely either racist, anti-working class or both.

[trogdor]

19. It's called NEED TO KNOW

He needs the clearance to get in the room. That doesn't mean he gets access to the computer networks, combos to safes, etc. Even in a SCIF, you don't leave shit like that laying around.

My question is, what the hell is Lockheed Martin doing about it? Surely if you pull his clearance, some other schmuck is going to have to sweep the floors in the SCIF, run the shredder, or whatever. What are you going to do, pay somebody $60,000 to shred paper and push a mop? DHS needs to get real.

[quilp]

7. The poor have always been a "security risk"!

Ask any rich Republican.

[study_war_no_more]

59. yeah and de sass de massah too

why are they investigating the mans finaces anyways are they selling friggin visa cards.

[Gman]

8. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Condi are SECURITY RISKS

These four have already caused untold incredible amounts of damage to the security of the Unites States.

Leave this poor guy alone.

[havocmom]

10. They have top secert dust bunnies there?

The guy sweeps the floor and he is a threat to security because of financial trouble? What sort of $$ woes? Perhaps incured from medical expenses treating his brain tumor? Or does he have a garage full of fancy cars he has to pay for?

Wild speculation here: Maybe he saw/heard someone who actually is a security risk engaging in suspicious behavior?

Not just class warfare in this case. This is also attacking someone who may have lost earning potential owing to a medical condition.

[Karenina]

11. Maybe they can hire

a few "downsized" IT workers on rotating minimum-wage shifts. :eyes:

[hatrack]

20. At 28 hours per week

Then they can classify 28 per as "full time", and offer benefits and health insurance that this guy won't be able to afford.

Hey, it works for Wal-Mart!

[JewelDigger]

13. Empathy can be an interesting thing

What is interesting is that 'whoever was reviewing the paperwork on this guy' apparently tried to put themselves in his shoes. If THEY were in that much financial difficulty, that's how THEY would consider solving their problem. I think THAT person(s) should be investigated and watched very very carefully ;-)

[IndianaGreen]

18. Rightwingers believe that poor people are poor by choice!

It is a mantra of Reaganism that people that are not financially successful have no one to blame but themselves.

Rightwingers believe that poor people are poor by choice!

It is the same thing they believe about gays: gays are gay by choice.

[Sideways]

44. Gawd IG You Are Telling My Half Sisters Life Story Here

My half sister Patty was my mothers favorite child. The three of us siblings that came later, after the no-no divorce(quiet quiet here) and our mothers marriage to our father we three didn't even know Patty wasn't our whole sister and that our mother had been divorced until my Nan blabbed one night in a drunken stupor.

So Patty was always presented as ONE of US not the child of a man the three of us other siblings were supposed to believe never existed. Catholic guilt and all that rot.

But Patty was always treated as special by our mother. She was the only one of the four children that got financial aid and advice for college, she was the only one who got a car paid for by our parents, she was the only one privy to the secret.

She was protected and culled to be successful. The rest of us were just too stupid not to be born male.

My mother was trying to give my flag officer daddy a boy. Didn't happen.

The upshot is this in a nutshell, Patty is a rich spoiled twit, always carping on and on about unions, poor people, unemployed, yada yada bullshit.

She and her husband have more money than God but they cringe if the word UNION or LABOR is spoken in their presence.

As IF they don't have money to burn and couldn't treat their workers with respect.

My other true sisters are as fucking funny and nice and decent and REAL as it gets.

My old man is as decent as they come. Patty is just hard wired to some other primordal ticking it's called GREED.

She can't see that she has been treated better and so her outcome is better. She thinks she is something BETTER. Big fucking mistake.

And it makes her an insufferable twit.

[0007]

47. Choice?

O' Goody can I be a slave?

Yes sir boss, right away boss....wait a second is that dick cheney guy sweeping my floor?

[onehandle]

14. In the financial industry, people are booted for bad credit...

...all of the time. Getting common in others as well.

When you give an employer your SSN, they run it.

[InkAddict]

91. Money Tree in Backyard? (LOL)

And just how long do they expect the recommended "three-month emergency fund" to last? It's just not important that the newly created "poor" won't be pouring it back into their system of greed and can't buy their products (globally made/serviced) or their song-and-dance/bait-and-switch any longer??? Hmmm....

Remember, the newly created poor "aren't all murderers/terrorists" either but IMHO the present WH crew sure plan to drive some toward it. Aren't prisons too full now -- can you say camp-outs?

Just wait until that "human sewage" backs up far enough! I'm not wishing that, but we need to work to Free the Prisoners of this administration's ideologies, greed, and malfeasance of office. We need to Take Our Country Back!

[SideshowScott]

15. It would be funny if it were not true.The GOPs war on the poor is scary

In the Gops mind the only good american is a rich american..The rest of us shlubs are threats to the republic..Never mind all those greedy rich bastards who would sell Gov secrats or sell out jobs from hard working americans to other countrys just to make an extra million..And thy have the NERVE to say we are starting a class war..I feel bad for this poor guy.

[MiltonLeBerle]

16. They know he's a security risk -

Because if they were in his shoes, they'd sell out the government in a second to make a buck...
Maybe they're trying to revoke the security clearance of the wrong person, and should take a look at the people pressing the issue in the first place.

[JewelDigger]

76. Gee, I wish I woulda said that!

See post #13 ;-)

[ChoralScholar]

95. My father always told me....

"When you're a thief, you think everyone else is too." Even though he was referring to Wal-Mart, I think it applies here.

Berle, you hit the nail on the head. Why else would they make up something so absurd? OF COURSE!!! THEY'D DO IT THEMSELVES!!!

Anyway, from their end, this is a problem with no solution. They're certainly not going to pay someone any more to sweep and mop.

Although... in the depressed economy of Arkansas, $16.85 to do janitorial work is an outrageousely high salary. I'll bet janitors at the Raytheon Plant in Little Rock make $7.00/hr at the most. (Just a thought)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

17. so then PAY THEM MORE

If you are paying them so little they are a security risk, the obvious solution is to pay them more. Problem solved.

[JitterbugPerfume]

21. being poor does not make one a security risk

being greedy does

these people have a priority problem

[jiacinto]

26. I disagree

If someone is under financial duress an offer of a 1 million dollars is quite attractive. Flame me all you want, but bad credit or financial duress is a security hazard. Should that be the only variable in a clearance? No it shouldn't. But to say that it isn't a concern is being naive.

[FlaGranny]

34. I don't agree. If you are honest, you are honest,

bottom line. How many stories have you heard about some poor person, really down on his luck, who has found several thousand dollars and has turned it in? It happens. Not to say this poor janitor who had a brain tumor and probably had to file bankruptcy because of it IS that honest, but the guy helps build Habitat for Humanity homes. You don't do that if you are a selfish person.

As a person with multiple sclerosis and whose work productivity deteriorated because of it, I had to file bankruptcy several years ago. It never once entered my mind to steal money, and if I had a top secret security clearance, it never would have occured to me to try to sell any secrets either.

By the way, not flaming you, just disagreeing.

Edit: After reading your post below, I must disagree again. Honesty does not depend on income or financial stability. It is a measure of your upbringing. Your stance sounds a little like "profiling" the poor. I know you are an advocate for the poor from other posts I've seen of yours, so I don't understand your stance here.

[study_war_no_more]

61. you will find more honesty among the poor than

among the rich. It just costs you more if your poor.

[MaraJade]

80. Excellent answer!

"Honesty does not depend on income or financial stability. It is a measure of your upbringing."

:toast:

When I was a child, I was poor and raised by a widowed mom who had
to work three minimum wage jobs at some points to feed and clothe us. Frequently, we struggled financially, even lacking heat and
food sometimes. One of mom's jobs involved cleaning the homes of
wealthy people. Despite our poverty, she never, ever stole anything
although the opportunity was ever present. I remember times when
she would actually beg neighbors and relatives for help, asking for milk or flour to make biscuits for us or begging for money to
pay for fuel oil or coal so we could have heat. But she always taught us kids that "honesty isn't the best policy, it's the ONLY policy." Her strong belief in God and heavenly retribution was also an influencing factor. She would work and beg, if necessary, but never steal.

People who are raised as honest, law-abiding people would quite
rather starve to death than steal or commit crimes to save themselves. The financial state of an individual has absolutely
nothing to do with how honest they are. In fact, some of the
most dishonest persons are actually very wealthy people who would
lie, cheat, falsify and steal to get even more wealth.

[Occulus]

49. So do what Postal Inspectors do

and deliberately tempt the man with a bloody treasonous offer that you know he "can't" refuse. Don't pressure him to take the offer in any way, make it clear he *could* get caught... and see if he responds.

If he doesn't, if he in fact violently reject the offer... you may as well trust him to sweep your floors.

[Q]

50. Once again jiacinto offers the right's POV

- Security risk, my ass.

[patdem]

62. YOU FOOL...Honesty is not situational!!!

I reported a conflict of interest in a company I worked for...and they did nothing about it....I never stole as much as a penny! Though I was about 5cents short once of purchasing a baking potatoe for my dinner one night...luckily the person behind me ponied up the extra nickle! Then I was offered to purchase the townhouse I was renting, but my monthly payments would go up. I went back and said to my superior...look there is a conflict of interest in my job...I can steal cash at will, and I have an opportunity to purchase my townhouse. I have never gone hungry and don't know if I will, but PLEASE remove this conflict from me before I have a chance to find out. There decended upon me a mass of people LOOKING to find out if I ever stole, based on my honest assesment of my situation....I laughed after I realized what they were doing!

BTW...I never purchased that townhouse and thank goodness values in that neighborhood took a dive the next 5 years!

No jiacinto GREED must predicate all stealing, unless perhaps it is because you are starving, or feeding your family.

[Sapphocrat]

72. Carlos...

You've often emphasized the fact that you've had it tough making it as a struggling student. I take that to mean that you -- as many of us do -- know the monotony of subsisting on macaroni and cheese because textbooks, or gasoline, or a new pair of shoes wiped out your cash 'til the end of the month.

Unless I miss my guess, you don't exactly have a trust fund to fall back on in the event of personal financial crisis.

Does that make you a security risk?

[foreigncorrespondent]

73. Carlos...

....just because if someone offered you a cool mil and you would take it, doesn't mean every other person in financial difficulty would take it. Not all of us are obsessed with money.

And before you jump all over me, let me tell you, I make a mere $380.00 a fortnight Australian, and I manage to live on that, and still buy things I want.

[Redleg]

84. I disagree with you.

Aren't most Americans in debt these days? Do you think most of us would sell our country down the river to pay off a few student loans or credit cards?

[MacCovern]

68. Once again, he makes good $$$$

I think the article said $16.85 per hour, and that is impressive for
a broom pusher.

If I make poor financial decisions in my personal life, it isn't the
fault of my employer, and it isn't the responsiblity of my employer
to make up for my poor decisions.

In this case, Lockheed has indicated this person will continue in
their employ, and they will find him work elsewhere.

The foolishness of this to me is that he has been working there so long, it should be obvious that he is a minimal security threat.
Exceptions should be made, but many times the government has ridiculous
zero tolerance policies.

[maxanne]

71. once again

$16.85 an hour after 19 years ain't dick.

Blaming him for his circumstances is certainly productive. Clearly he deserves to be poor because he didn't get an MBA and wasn't born into the right family. :eyes:

You compassionate conservatives slay me. If you get rid of all the poor people, who is going to clean the men's room? The CEO?
bwaaaahahahahahahahaha

[MacCovern]

83. Good money for broom pusher

I have great sympathy for this individual as far as the
governments fear that he might be a security threat, and think
it is unwarranted.

However, $16.85 is great money for janitorial services work, after
19 years, or 100 years! How much money are you supposed to pay
someone for work that doesn't require much skill? Is he supposed to
be making $100,000 because he's been there so long? Of course not.

Maybe he doesn't want a stressful job due to his medical condition,
but who knows why he is a janitor after 19 years of work with the
same employer. The point is he is responsible for the decisions he
has made in life and although he is having some financial difficulty,
he is making a decent living. Also, just because he is having
financial trouble doesn't mean he is poor, but then again it's
tough to define poor anyway.
:bounce:

[Redleg]

85. How do you know all he does is "push a broom?"

Shit, these days $16.85 an hour is not that much money.

[MacCovern]

89. Figure of Speech....

janitors are sometimes referred to as broom pushers. He must be
good at or I would assume he wouldn't have lasted there for 19 years.

A forty hour week at $16.85 is $674, and let's say he works
fifty weeks a year. That's $33,700 on an annual basis.
Lockheed is a huge company, so I'm sure he has full medical
coverage for himself and his family.

The article indicated that he is in better financial shape now
than he has been in years. Unfortunately it appears the gubment
isn't taking this into consideration. Lockheed had nothing but
good things to say about him in the article.

[lancemurdoch]

92. Huh?

Yes, it was a poor financial decision for him to get a brain tumor or for his daughter to be blind.

Maybe you should join the DOD security clearance committee. Sounds right up your alley.

[searchingforlight]

22. Well, under Bush that must mean most of us!!

Imagine the database!

[SideshowScott]

24. I think thats the plan......

Never forget that infamous bush line.." This would be easyer if this was a dictaorship "..The GOP have been wageing class war on the poor for decades now..There is nothing the would want more to make the poor just slaves

[Rex]

23. The people who run the DoD are security risks.

Assholes the lot of em.

[jiacinto]

25. I can understand this

Before you flame me I can understand the concern. People under financial duress are a potential risk. Not speaking about Lynch specifically here, but people in heavy debt are potential security risks because they might take the money.

That being said I don't think Lynch should lose his clearance either simply because of financial duress. If there are other factors that we don't know about then that's another matter. It should be part of the risk assessment, but not the entire evaluation.

[salin]

27. Doesn't it make more sense to watch for suspicious behavior

such as changes in spending habits?

Besides I don't think Aldrich Ames who sold out was in financial distress nor was Hansson. But both WEre the security risk.

Singling out folks even for assessment due to financial hardship - that is discrimantory. Especially if their finances are dependent upon their (presumably low wage) job they have with YOU and have held for 19 years.

If they start getting rid of all of their low wage earners - because all have financial stress (a frequent situation for low wage earners) - then who will do those jobs? Will sweeping the halls become an assigned duty of the mechanical engineer?

[jiacinto]

28. Fair enough

Re-read what I said. I said it should be "PART" of the evaluation not the entire evaluation. But people under financial stress or huge debt loads, regardless of income, are potential security risks.

I don't see why it's a big deal to say that.

[DBoon]

37. Yes but

This is an argument for classifying information frugally - only classify what is absolutely necessary.

Classifying ordinary government records, increasing the scope of classification to include civilian "homeland security" projects (powerplant operations, chemical plants, etc.), and shrinking the domestic job base so that classified projects start to make up the bulk of hi-tech jobs is a real serious problem.

[sam sarrha]

60. they didnt notice boeing ROBBING THEM BLIND for year !!!!!

:nopity:

[sandnsea]

63. Ken Lay cheated because of financial duress?

Cheaters and liars are cheaters and liars because they have no morals. When you think of people who have sold secrets in the past, they actually have tended to be people with above average wealth. Betraying your country isn't something the average American worker would ever consider doing, regardless of their personal financial situation. It's a sad day in this nation when wealthy people have caused far more harm to this country yet are still considered 'moral' simply because they have a good financial statement. Never mind how they got all that money, they have it, therefore they are 'honorable citizens'. I don't know how in the world we got to a place where people are nothing more than a credit report.

[Proud_American]

69. No, no, no - I think you've got that backwards

People who are likely to steal (or sell gov't secrets for profit) do so out of greed; not to pay off debt. The idea is to get rich; not to get out of debt. I'm certainly no psychologist but it seems to me motives are being reflected here as opposite of what they really are. My point is that debt does not entice one to steal; greed does and greed is blind to how much debt one has.

[neuvocat]

29. I guess patriotism is measured by how much

someone has in their wallet.

[VolcanoJen]

30. Message from LBN Moderator

Hi drdarwin,

The rules for the Latest Breaking News Forum require that when linking to an article, the poster must use the actual title of the article in their subject line. In this case, your subject line should read:

"Government Considers Lockheed Martin Janitor a Security Risk Because of His Financial Struggle"

Of course, that's a rather long subject line, but it should have been used in part, at least. ;-)

This is an interesting story and has received many responses, so it would be counterproductive to lock it at this time. However, in the future, please remember to follow LBN Guidelines when posting in this forum.

Here's a link to the rules for futher reference:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1&mesg_id=1

Thanks! :-)
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

[salin]

42. Thanks for the reminder

and good call (re due to the discussion, keeping it as is - but giving the reminder/notice for the future)

:thumbsup:

And message received :D

[DBoon]

31. Too true!!!

Financial troubles will get a clearance removed. Clearances are hard to come by if you have family relations in foreign countries (think of all the immigrants - even folks who become citizens have parents, siblings, spouses who are non-citizens). The Feds can look at basically anything in your background in determing a clearance. They are not restricted by laws that apply to private employers.


Political affiliation is an issue too. For a top secret clearance, you are asked if you or a close kin are involved in Greenpeace. This is in addition to the usual ludicrous questions about Communist Party affiliation.


The flip side of controlling information through classification is controlling people through clearances. One young geek I know was told his clearance would be removed if he posted a rant on his personal Web site against US govt. crypto policies. Not sure that would have really happened, but it effectively shut him up.

[moondust]

41. Yup.

Financial troubles have always been a disqualifier for security clearances.

Methinks * does not meet established criteria for holding a security clearance due to past drug and heavy alcohol usage, AWOL, and the devil knows what else.

[mumon]

33. Damn right they're a security risk...

People who are content don't make revolution.

That oughta make the wing-nuts sleep REAL well at night- knowing that everyone in debt is a "risk."

[tom_paine]

35. As we inch closer to the blood-gushing birth of Bushevik Imperial Amerika

This is not surprising in the least.

Of course, if poverty and treason are so well-crrelated, why have the Busheviks (or when they were part of the Nixon Crime Family) committed treason on at least Three Seperate Occasions (that we know of).

More if you count the "untimely deaths" of Kennedy Kennedy King Kennedy Jr. Wellstone Carnahan.

Now that Caeser has been revealed, this is just the beginning of the depths to which the Empire will ultimately sink.

Unless the Busheviks are stopped! NEVER GIVE UP!

[malachi]

64. Right you are, TP, 100%

Who the fuck would be so stupid as to not beleive that everyone can be bought. It's just a matter of determining the price.

[damnraddem]

36. The solution is clear: increase his pay.

Increase the pay of all janitors -- make it a requirement of the contracts.

And think of all those security risks out there in the form of underpaid workers in all industries, with defense contracts or not. I say that we fight such security risks by promoting unionization, higher pay, and better benefits for all workers! Hey, it's not class warfare: it's national security!

[rucky]

48. Really....a big bucks defense contractor

... you'd think they could afford to pay him a living wage.

[mumon]

54. Defense contractors suck

They have the most antideluvian personnel policies of any industry I've known (then again, I've never been a coal miner or a Wal-mart worker).

They're generally anti-union, and they would rather shit on your face than buy you equipment you needed for your job.

I remember folks who hoarded aligator clips because the company was too cheap to buy the friggin' things.

Never work for a defense contractor. Never.

[rocktivity]

39. Take away his potential incentive to steal by taking away his need to

If he's still struggling financially after 19 years, he simply isn't being paid enough. And if his 1993 bankruptcy is that big a problem, it should have been dealt with in 1993. By the way, doesn't bankruptcy mean that you're RELIEVED of paying most of that debt.

I don't have a problem with THEIR problem, just their solution. After all, you can bet that the person they replace him with won't be getting a higher salary!

rocknation

[drummerjohn]

43. This is just another step...

to criminalize being poor

But they are creating more of us poor folks everyday
including ones that just a couple of years ago were
having steak and lobster every night for supper


The Revolution's coming baby

[goforit]

45. I guess Rummy will have to give the job to Ken Lay and Skilling!!!

Ya,....they can sweep and mop the joint without worring
about their finances!!!

How about all those Corporate CEOs.....

Rummy's eating sh*t on this one!!!
Well deserved!!!

[rocktivity]

46. Yikes, what a selflish irresponsible treasonous deadbeat!

Lynch, a former cabinet maker, was out of work for three years after surgery in 1981 to remove a brain tumor. When he was well enough, he got a job at the radar and missile guidance systems plant, then owned by RCA but later acquired by Lockheed Martin.

The Lynches ran into severe financial problems in the early 1990s after his wife, Kay, stopped working to help their blind daughter, Christy, with her studies. The family couldn't make ends meet on Michael Lynch's wages and declared bankruptcy.

Kay Lynch eventually went back to work, but quit again after Christy was accepted to Temple University's music program. Again finding themselves short of money, the Lynches decided to pay their daughter's tuition instead of city wage taxes, which Lockheed did not deduct from Michael Lynch's paycheck...the family has since paid $7,000 toward their tax bill - most of what they owe...

...When Lynch updated the application in 1999, he erroneously said he hadn't filed for bankruptcy in the past seven years and hadn't had a debt older than 180 days...Lynch simply made a mistake. A letter from Lynch's neurologist says that because of his physical condition, he has trouble with dates.

Well, if this guy doesn't deserve one-way ticket to Gitmo Bay, I don't know who does! THROW THE BOOK AT HIM!!! :eyes:

rocknation

[Karenina]

52. I hope y'all don't mind

if I go sit in a corner and cry for awhile...

[Ouabache]

51. Didn't der Shrubmeister have an oil company that went belly-up ?

>>security clearance began raising questions about a 1993 bankruptcy, an unpaid tax bill and some discrepancies on paperwork that Lynch filled out in 1999.<<<<

Didn't der Shrubmeister also have some SEC paperwork discrepancies in the early 90's ?

I rest my case.

[leetrisck]

53. With this logic a big part of the active duty

military would be security risks.

[joycep]

55. This makes me ill

I am quite sure Jesus would be considered a security risk by these people. It makes me so angry. I am struggling financially but I wouldn't even think about selling govenment secrets. I am sure this man is the same way. I wonder how many houses these bastards have built for Habitat.

[Dover]

56. Yes, only the poor will sellout for $$$.........just ask Ken Lay or anyone

in or associated with the GOP.

[sam sarrha]

57. So hire a RICH guy to swab out toilets,and he could afford to be paid less

i would worry more about someone living well on the wages they pay the non tech help.

[sam sarrha]

58. This is to distract from them not noticing Boeing was stealing secrets for

for years..F'n pukes are scape goating this poor disabled man to cover up their previous security problems of the upper management involving the Boeing's espionage for a serious long time. Boeing got fined a BILLION dollars, and banned from bidding on rocket deals for a long time.

[On the Road]

65. Well, People in Financial Straits ARE a Security Risk

No matter whether you're poor or upper middle class, if you carry a lot of debt or are a bankruptcy risk you will have a harder time getting a security clearance. And justly so. Desperate people consider desperate things.

[JewelDigger]

78. Just not true...

...I know some VERY wealthy business owners....I smile in disgusted amusement that they are the FIRST/ONLY people in group to steal the towels and the robe and the ashtray from the hotel (to wipe their BMW's after a rain - THEY don't actually every wash it...there's PEOPLE for that, ya know). I've seen them reach into the airline cart and steal extra bags of pretzels while the steward/stewardess is serving the passenger across the aisle (they COULD just ask for them, but they actually enjoy the petty larceny and, in fact, feel it's 'their right' to take them)....I've seen them move up to the better seats in the theatre that they didn't pay for (it's just 'chutzpuh', ya know (no ethnic anything meant there) I could go on and on. But basically it comes down to this: If you can't trust someone with the small things, you can't trust them with the big ones. And anyone who says the poor will steal and that they don't trust them, well, just makes me believe the speaker/writer has larceny in his/her own heart.

[Redleg]

86. Where is the empirical evidence for this?

Most of us are in debt- some more than others. How many of us would steal, or sell secrets, or cheat on taxes?

[stlsaxman]

74. Maybe if they gave him a RAISE and some HEALTHCARE for his family

these "poor people" might not NEED "be tempted to sell government secrets to get out of debt."

this is just plain evil. 19 years of dedication to his job and the pride that
comes with rendered worthless by (quite possibly) someone who was going
over company records was having a shitty day and wanted to make someone
elses life miserable. well, they certainly accomplished that.

[MaraJade]

75. I wonder. . .

:eyes:

How many people of Mr. Lynch's status even have access to anything
like "government secrets" during the regular course of their jobs?" And while we are at it. . .

How many of the janitors that were cleaning Enron's "DeathStar"
building were involved with the creative accounting schemes that
ran that company into the ground?

Two things that make you go hmmmmm. . .

[Pert_UK]

77. Two things......1, DOD shoots self in foot, 2 Why not give him more money?

Alienating and insulting workers in the defence industry is only going to make them MORE likely to do something against their country. In addition, it's highly likely to make them rethink their views on voting Republican if that was how they were originally inclined.

Secondly, if they're that worried about it, why not just give him a fat load of cash as a bonus for not betraying his country all these years - that would make him happy and also elevate him out of "security risk" status.

Assholes.

P.

[dansolo]

79. Greedy people are a security risk

I'm more worried about the greedy people.

[aquart]

81. Judging him by themselves.

There's no question that Republicans would sell American secrets, resources, bodies......

Well, they already have, haven't they?

[baffie]

94. Excellent! They'll solve the problem by passing

a living wage law

...uh, right?