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I wouldn't be so sure. Government bailouts tend to happen because they're almost forces to. Where the economy can suffer greater loss without the bailout. Generally, in a scenario where a company or corporation has nestled itself into something the economy is dependent on. Of course what happens after that bailout is the bad part where it often seems nothing is done to alleviate the economy's dependency, nor is the actions of the body receiving the bailout regulated, monitored, or needing to pay it back.

I don't know how much dire a state the US economy would be in with Boeing missing or significantly damaged, but can't imagine it's perceived to be as bad as the crooked banks.

Edit: Oh, wait. The military is dependent on them. Yeah, there'd be a bailout lol

Well, you might have a point. I'm a millenial and I didn't buy a single Boeing last month. Damn you, cancel culture!

well on it’s way from being a symbol of quality

US Cars have been an international joke since the 70s. And Boeing's success is largely in contrast to McDonald Douglas, which crapped out back in the 90s and was forced into a merger to get bailed out. This isn't an issue of "American Quality" so much as it is an issue of "Traditional manufacturing methodology" being whittled away over time by profit-obsessed shareholders and C-levels.

Boeing was a little late to the party, but that's got nothing to do with American symbology. Everyone from Intel to Burger King have been on this trajectory for decades.

Hope it was worth jacking up their stock price for five minutes.

It was for the CEOs who already cashed out and abandoned the company, yes.

They replaced their management, who were mostly engineers with MBA’s, to business majors with MBA’s who worship Jack Welch. The IQ in the room plummeted as the ghost of Welch demanded sacrifices for short term gains so they might one day get their golden parachute.

There’s nothing inherent to running a business that implies cannibalizing one’s own brand reputation for short term profits

True but only for a snapshot in time. When the expectation of the environment is unlimited growth and profit above all else, the quick cash out in lieu of long term gains is inevitable sooner or later

You can find countless examples of businesses where the brand’s reputation for quality, reliability, and safety are considered sacred and any employee who publicly damages that reputation is ostracized. Japanese companies pretty commonly have these cultures, for example.

Oh outside of the USA yes, I can see that... In the USA, I think I would count such examples with 1 hand (talking about large companies and corporations, not Mom and Pop shops of course)

Generally a business runs for profit. They teach people in business school to maximize profits. So there kind of is something inherent to running a business that implies cannibalizing one's own brand reputation for short term profits. There is always that incentive to give the least amount for as much as you can take.

Japanese have immortalized a concept called "Black Company" and "Death March" where they push their employees into so much overtime that they literally die or risk losing their livelihood. Which is probably not great for long term or their reputation.

Mmm McDD

Kinda yes, kinda no. There have certainly been times, particularly after 9/11 and various crises, when demand dropped significantly.

There's also airliners that just haven't sold well. A340NG, A380, 747-8, 767-400, the MD-11, until recently the Cseries/A220. The A330neo has also not sold particularly well and you could probably get a slot within a year easily.