The Perks of the Job

I love reading about how great it is working in other industries, like the software or entertainment industry. You hear about companies like Google who have free catered lunches, laundry on site, bring your pets to work, etc. Even big corporations like Disney offer employees things like Lakers box seats, bonuses, or even a company car.

If you ever look at working at the Shitshow, you will see the job has no perks (unless you count getting 10% off tickets to the zoo). The only perk you get at the Shitshow is your salary. And even then, the Shitshow tries to take as much of this salary back as they can. They do it by overcharging you for everything: greasy cafeteria food, vending machines, employee store, or making you purchase your own vacation.

To be fair, it has to be this way. Because for all intents and purposes, the aerospace industry is just another quasi-government agency constantly looking for a handout from Uncle Sam. The Shitshow could never offer great perks to the employees . If it did, there'd be a front page story in the LA times about where your tax dollars are going to waste. And that would lead to a cut in funding, perhaps cancellation of the entire program. So it's really like working for the government, except you don't get all the federal holidays.

But as Marlon Brando once said, this is the business we've chosen. And because I made a losuy choice, I throw rocks.