Developers working on a project called Security of Aircraft in the Future European Environment claim new on-board technology will be foolproof against hijackers. The system uses sensors, cameras, and microphones to monitor passengers’ behavior. In an emergency, an autopilot would automatically be activated to land the plane safely.

Is the increased safety worth being so strictly monitored and giving up so much of your privacy?

Responses To September's Question "Borrowed Rules"

Earlier this year, William Swanson, chief executive of Raytheon Co., publicly apologized and was docked approximately US $1 million in pay by the company after it was revealed that he had plagiarized sections of his popular 2004 book, Swanson’s Unwritten Rules of Management. It seems that 16 of Swanson’s 33 rules were lifted word for word from W.J. King’s Unwritten Laws of Engineering, published in 1944 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Do you think Swanson’s punishment was appropriate, too severe, or not severe enough?

It’s a Copy-and-Paste World

Swanson’s punishment was appropriate. It was a visible example that may deter others from not attributing copied text. It will somewhat reduce Swanson’s income, but he can continue to focus on doing his best at being the CEO of Raytheon, and maybe earn it back in the future.

In today’s copy-and-paste world, it’s easier than ever to assemble material without proper attribution.

One must also note the nauseatingly uncreative self-plagiarism commonly accepted from today’s authors, including those of us who publish with the IEEE. It’s like driving above the local speed limit—we’re often too busy to do things right.

RAY SPERBER
Syren, Luxembourg

Symbolic Fines

According to The Boston Globe, the $1 mill­ion “fine” was out of a $7 million pay package in 2005. At such a level, the fine was largely symbolic.

A company should look for a CEO who can set the overall direction and create the right morale and work ethic. Clearly Swanson has shown that he has lost his moral compass and should be discharged with no benefits based on his breach of an implied contract.

BOB QUEENAN
Idaho Falls, Idaho

An Honorable Man

I am a Raytheon employee disgusted that we seem to delight in punishing CEOs for whatever transgression can be fabricated and reinforced by the media. Bill Swanson is an honorable man who was trying to help people find their way in today’s upside-down organizational culture. I was never under the impression his booklet was Bill’s exclusive intellectual property when it was distributed.

A good friend of mine once said, “No good deed goes unpunished.” I doubt that he originally wrote that statement, so perhaps we should take away a portion of his pension?

LELAND JOHNSON JR.
Goddard, Kan.

The Crime of Getting Caught

Of course plagiarism is wrong, and a person who knowingly plagiarizes should be punished. However, until we begin to apply the same rules of conduct to college professors as we’ve applied to Swanson, we’ll continue to have young people graduating from our “institutes of higher learning” believing that the only “crime” is to get caught or to not be politically well-placed enough to avoid consequences.

VAUGHN AKINS
Austin, Texas

Executive Excess

I see no reason for his continued employment. He knowingly plagiarized and set himself and his work up as an example. It’s typical of American big business today. We take unethical and often illegal actions, minimally penalize executives, and make examples out of workers.

I retired from both IBM and Motorola, and the bad stuff I saw has worsened and seemingly grown more acceptable. Meanwhile, as executive pay goes through the ceiling, workers get reduced benefits and compensation. Professional discretionary income has been in decline since 1970, while executive pay continues to increase to form an oligarchy.

I would add that I’ve had a number of managerial and technical accomplishments, so I’m not talking from a position of being fired or downsized.

BOB MUNROE
Dallas