Arrogance at the Top - Part 2

The auto execs had the nerve to come in to Congress with their hands out without even a semblance of a plan. Nothing!!!! Can anyone who has ever floated an idea let alone a plan asking for company assets ever gone to management without a well thought out business plan? No answer required.

The auto execs felt all they had to do was ask and they shall receive because that is all they know. They say something and it happens, like magic. No hard work required. No research, no solid, logical plan. I need 12 billion just deposit it in my account. I am the CEO of ......... and should not be questioned.

If these are our finest captains of industry we might as well just shut down the economy because with this type of leadership, or lack thereof, chances of a recovery are slim at best. I guess they are getting a mulligan though. Would you give them one?

Arrognace at the Top

Yesterday we got to see the three Captains of the U.S. auto industry in action. We got to see the guys who have all but destroyed the American car building industry ask for money. We got to see the guys who all have binding contractual agreements that no matter what happens on their watch they still get at least 15 million. We got to see the guys that spent $20,000 to come in on their private corporate jet when they could have done it for $500 on a commercial airline.

I have seen corporate greed in my thirty plus years in business. I find no one who thinks they are more entitled than corporate execs. They get everything in the world given to them while they are the only ones who can afford to pay for it. They feel they are entitled.

Our workers are more productive than ever. Can we say that about our execs? I think not because they just don't get it. They live in fantasy land and we encourage their behaviors on rubber stamping Corporate Boards and in our halls of Congress.

Top notch execs would never work without a contract. However, ask them what they think about the rank and file, in service industries for instance, organizing with a contract. They will fight it tooth and nail. You see, contracts which promise riches regardless of performance are only for the execs. We have lost our way.

The Audacity of Hope!

Yesterday, in our presidential election, we elected a man who promises us many things but the biggest promise he made was one of hope. Hope for a better America, hope for a stronger America, and hope for a more tolerant America.

From my vantage point hope is the strongest promise he made. When there are problems in our lives we hope for better times and we hope if necessary a friend will help us. We hope our kids turn out better than OK. We hope our kids have it better than we did. We hope we can retire without too much hardship. We hope our parents don't suffer in their struggles with advancing age. We hope there are no wars. We hope crime does not darken our door or our family. We hope that all of our hard work pays off in a decent retirement. We hope that cruel greed ends in America.

We hope President elect Obama keeps this promise as we need hope in our country now more than ever. He can fail a little on taxes, and on health care, and on other promises maybe fall a little short as well. But he can't fall short on giving us hope because if he fails on that count we may never vote for someone who has the audacity of hope again.

I hope we have elected a true leader. I hope for his success. All Americans should.

VOTE

Today is the day. Finally, no more talking heads, no more phone calls during dinner, no more political junk mail. Remember to vote em out, all of em. We need a new start and we need to send a message that the ways of the past are just that, past. We have the power so go out and do it. Vote for real change and vote independent wherever possible. We need to break the stranglehold of the two party system on our country. No incumbents. Be bold, stay strong.