[RP TownTalk] how do you feel about raytheon?

[Yorkedial at aol.com]

Would you ask the same question if General Electric, also a defense  
contractor, wanted space in Riverdale Park? 
 
If your question is that Raytheon is part of the great American  industrial 
military complex -- bingo -- you are right. But it's American -- our  side, 
remember us? And we still need to protect ourselves, particularly  after carrying 
out some less-than-thoughtful measures throughout the  world.
 
Marc, the answer is YES, we do want Raytheon to be a part of our  community. 
It pays taxes and it does for us what America wants it to do. 
 
And, while we can all joke that Raytheon is "the people who brought  you 
Vietnam," and that it built the Patriot Missile, it is also  responsible for great 
advances in American culture and society. For instance,  Raytheon is the 
creator and manufacture of the first computerized news  system installed and used 
in The Washington Post  (1979), switching the last major newspaper in America 
to cold type from hot  metal. Raytheon also owns and operates a slew of 
technology manufacturing  companies including Bell Helicopter and Bell Helmet 
(protective head gear for  your children's heads), and much of the equipment used in 
hospitals  today. 
 
So, it's not all death and destruction, there's a whole lot of life and  
resurrection going on in this company, too.
 
My question is why only 90% of the space, why not 100% of the Riggs space  or 
even MORE space elsewhere in the town?    
 
Jeffrey Yorke
 
In a message dated 10/7/2007 10:27:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
mmolino54 at hotmail.com writes:

We spend  a lot of time debating about the types of businesses we do and 
don't want in  our town. Some of us are so fed up we'll take anything. Some of us 
believe we  can hold out for higher quality. Expanding our taxable base of 
businesses  seems desirable from all sides.

So I was wondering how people feel  about the 5th biggest defense contractor 
(Raytheon) leasing 90% of the old  Riggs building?

Here's how they describe themselves on their website  
(http://www.raytheon.com):
"Raytheon is a technology leader specializing in  defense, homeland security, 
and other government markets throughout the world.  With a history of 
innovation spanning more than 80 years, Raytheon provides  state-of-the-art 
electronics, mission systems integration, and other  capabilities in the areas of 
sensing; effects; command, control,  communications and intelligence systems, as 
well as a broad range of mission  support services."

-Marc M.


 



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