Comments on: http://demarcationville.com/2008/04/15/743/ There’s a thin line between normal and insane. I think I’m standing on it… which would explain the big blob of crazy on my shoe. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:15:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Deborah Metcalf http://demarcationville.com/2008/04/15/743/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Deborah Metcalf Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:14:39 +0000 http://demarcationville.wordpress.com/?p=743#comment-504 I agree with you completely about that, and that would have made a fine and fair headline: "Slave Labor at Defense Contractor Owned by Polygamist". What I object to is the way the story is being paraded around in such a way to suggest the federal government is giving millions to the sect, as opposed to the reality of buying parts from a company run by a influential member of the sect. I agree with you completely about that, and that would have made a fine and fair headline: “Slave Labor at Defense Contractor Owned by Polygamist”.

What I object to is the way the story is being paraded around in such a way to suggest the federal government is giving millions to the sect, as opposed to the reality of buying parts from a company run by a influential member of the sect.

]]> By: demarcationville http://demarcationville.com/2008/04/15/743/comment-page-1/#comment-506 demarcationville Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:29:07 +0000 http://demarcationville.wordpress.com/?p=743#comment-506 I don't know Deborah. While I am not particularly bothered by the polygamy aspect or ties to Jeffs, I do find this portion of the story a bit problematic: <blockquote>"John Nielsen, who worked for the company when it was Western Precision in Hildale, said in a 2005 affidavit that he and other FLDS members were made to work for little or no wages, even as the company was bringing in lucrative government contracts and other work. [...] He said he and other sect members thought their working for free or for extremely low wages would bring them redemption." </blockquote> I think there have been enough claims/complaints filed against both companies regarding labor practices, inequitable pay and discrimination (refusal to hire non-church members) to justify an investigation - and if they are not adhering to federal law: no, I do not think they should be eligible for SBA assistance or listing in the Central Contractors Registry. I don’t know Deborah. While I am not particularly bothered by the polygamy aspect or ties to Jeffs, I do find this portion of the story a bit problematic:

“John Nielsen, who worked for the company when it was Western Precision in Hildale, said in a 2005 affidavit that he and other FLDS members were made to work for little or no wages, even as the company was bringing in lucrative government contracts and other work.

[...]

He said he and other sect members thought their working for free or for extremely low wages would bring them redemption.”

I think there have been enough claims/complaints filed against both companies regarding labor practices, inequitable pay and discrimination (refusal to hire non-church members) to justify an investigation – and if they are not adhering to federal law: no, I do not think they should be eligible for SBA assistance or listing in the Central Contractors Registry.

]]> By: Deborah Metcalf http://demarcationville.com/2008/04/15/743/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Deborah Metcalf Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:46:31 +0000 http://demarcationville.wordpress.com/?p=743#comment-505 I saw those articles. It's bad journalism. There is a company that makes aircraft parts, which the federal government buys. The owner is a polygamist. So this becomes "Polygamist sect gets millions from U.S. government". Damn if that isn't incredibly misleading and deliberately so. Yellow journalism at its finest. The reporters writing these articles should be ashamed of themselves. I saw those articles. It’s bad journalism. There is a company that makes aircraft parts, which the federal government buys. The owner is a polygamist. So this becomes “Polygamist sect gets millions from U.S. government”. Damn if that isn’t incredibly misleading and deliberately so. Yellow journalism at its finest. The reporters writing these articles should be ashamed of themselves.

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