Remember Lee Iacocca , the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts. Lee Iacocca says:
"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a g ang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course"
Stay the course? You'v e got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned "Titanic". I'll give you a sound bite: "Throw all the bums out!"
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the " America " my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.
The Biggest "C" is Crisis!
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there wit h your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001 , we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady and to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess. So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the bigges t deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when y ou look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Wher e are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storm s happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "The Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the he alth care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our
country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spi ne for a change? Had enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope; I believe in America. In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the "Great Depression", "World War II", the "Korean War", the "Kennedy Assassination", the "Vietnam War", the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: "You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to "Action" for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pret ty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had "enough."
I have read that somewhere before and I agree with all of it. He should be on TV saying those things so maybe a few of the people will listen and wake up. Not enough people read any more to really make an impact. It has to be on TV or the darn Internet.
I've been called all kinds of things in this forum by members of the mediocre mob mentality. Somebody at the national level who dares to think outside the box will be branded Liberal by the right wing, and heartless by the left.
People in this country are so hung up on trying to apply simple labels to everyone and everything that they can no longer see the complexities behind many issues. I see it all the time on this forum - I say Iraq is a mess, so I must be a leftie and hate America. People really need to get their heads out of wherever they have stuck them and stop toeing the unthinking party line.
Steve
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If you can't stay on the road, get off it!!
I think Iacocca was full of sh!t the first time I read this, and still do.
He's got an ego far beyond the confines of his head...let him peddle bikes, etc.
Easy to save a company when you get the feds to bail you out. Wonder how many companies would still be around today if they got that kind of financing. Hmmm...maybe we should throw some money at UAL or Delta or Yahoo...far more important to national security than some freeking K-cars and mini-vans. Yes, they paid it back...so, that's what you're supposed to do with a loan. And who owns Chysler now? Anyone keeping up with that?
The ultimate Monday morning quarterback, making money on the talking tours. And people buy his books and feel the light of Allah shine upon them with his wisdom.
Way to go Lee....staying the course has run us into the ditch. As far as the boneheads that run the big companies. It's not about making the money as much as it is keeping America strong! The way they run a business isn't much less than criminal! How many billions do you need before you stop sucking the middle class dry?
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20mph is not fast, unless you are doing it in a 3/2, 1000sq. ft. house on 10 ft. waves!
Obviously as usual I am on the wrong side of this thread, but I do agree with a lot of what he said. The go along with whatever is done by the people is what has let us get into this mess. And I realize a lot of what he said was to promote his book. But at least he said something. I don't think any one person can turn things around, it is going to take the people as a whole getting fed up and voting some of those jerks out of office. I may as well make a complete idiot of myself, but I wish we had Regan back. He wasn't perfect, but I think he did some good things. He rebuilt our military from Carters letting it go until we had none.
Ok, now you know where I stand, go ahead and take your shots. I am not going to get into any name calling fights, but I do believe we can disagree on things and do so in a civil manner and if you will show me where I am wrong I will be quick to admit it.
...and what a great country this is, where folks can disagree about the value of an old POS rewriting history and suggesting that he knows what's best for us...
Iacocca had some good things to say. Let's not kill the messenger.
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Of course it's REAL! You are NOT imagining it!
We don't want a bigger government; We want a government that does a few BIG things, and does them right.
If you think that you can cut it, if you think you got the time, they'll only give you one chance, better get it right first time. 'Cause in this game you're playin, if you lose you got to pay. And if you make just ONE wrong move, you'll get BLOWN AWAY!
You reading some other thread? Nobody has argued with fsstnotch for posting it.
Or are you refering to Iacocca as the "messenger?" If so, I would say that's assactly what the old the old fart thinks of himself as...a "messenger of god." You're certainly not suggesting that those of us who think he's a POS can't maintain that position, are you?
These and other questions are presented for your consideration, Snakehead.
When the messenger brings a ****ty message you do like Leonidas did in the movie 300, you kick his ass in the well. That's where Iaccocca belongs.
When the Iraq war started half were for it and half against it. The half that are against something can always make enough trouble to cause failure for the half who are for it. Mistakes were made but could have been rectified had it not been for the backstabbing back home. And if wanting your country to lose is "hating America" then I guess you just have to admit that's who you are.
Jamo,
I'm sure you are aware of Iacoccas involvement with the development of the Mustang. You are probably also aware of the sales record, and the popularity of the car. Iacocca has a different management style - he pays attention to what people wanted, and he gave it to them.
If people running the car companies did things like that now we might not have seen the Chevy SSR. And, Chrysler did manage to pay back the loan - I have my doubts as to whether any of the current crop of CEOs would do so today - much less pay it back early.
Personally, I think Iacocca deserves better treatment than being called a POS for his views on a situation that he thinks is harming this country.
Bernie,
As for wanting to put Iacocca down a well '300' style - Don't you think it is a bit stupid to pollute your own water supply just to satisfy a 'warrior class' emotional outburst? It may look exciting in the movie, but it is a sure sign of not being able to understand the consequences of your actions (something our leaders seem to do on a regular basis).
Steve
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If you can't stay on the road, get off it!!
Had you the power to study the full situation and not just the narrow preconceived notions that you harbor without understanding the full implications of your actions, you would have noticed the well was empty. No water to pollute. Only a simple hole to throw trash in which is what that type of messenger is.
And believe me that I am fully aware that you would surrender your freedom without a whimper for just a drink a water just so you could be the eternal nihilist you love to be.
Bernie,
There is a quote from the scene - "Earth and water. You'll find plenty of both down there.". Sounds like the expected contents of a well to me. And we are never shown the bottom. Did you even watch the movie??? I think somebody needs to pay better attention to the details before making statements regarding those details.
I'm sure you will not take my word for it, so maybe this will help inform you a bit (well, I doubt it will help, but it is a fun scene anyway).
Oh, and the quote is at the 2 minute mark. Enjoy...
And I surrender nothing to anyone...why else would I continue to argue with you over trivial things?
Steve
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If you can't stay on the road, get off it!!
Steve (VRM), I'm sure you were attempting to make a valid point in responding to me, but for the life of me...I really don't see it.
Me thinks there's is a bit of a difference in helping the production of a car (built on a Falcon...wowey wow...and I have a 65) for the masses that really is a POS without some help (at least it can be helped...K-cars simply need to be buried in a landfill) and running to the government for bail out loans and seeking wage give backs from union workers in exchange for letting the union put some folks on the board of directors and then taking a sh!tload of money in salaries and bonuses and then leaving so you can fail at developing a new bike and then go around being cranky while speaking at corporate retreats and writing books and never puttting your ass on the line and running for office and then sitting back and acting like you knew all along what was going on and in the meantime the POS bailed out car company has been sold to foreign interests, not once but twice now, which is something you thought you could prevent and while you were in charge the POS company was starting to crumble anyway and actually led the big three in moving jobs out of the phuking country and please....in a matchup of an SSR and a K-car, mini-van, Horizon, etc., I would take the SSR in a heartbeat, and, maybe, just maybe...someone ought to pay attention to those stone tablets and remember that item about kissing the ass of false gods that rely on glitter versus substance in good times and bad.
BTW, the basturd got fired...Ford is still an American company.
Really...your point is simply a non-starter. We don't owe that freeking car salesman a damn thing, let alone respect.
Lee Iacocca says:
Bagram AF Afghanistan
he seems to be the only with the houevos (sp) to stand up and speak what is on his mind. 
Hybrid Mode
