Saturday, November 22, 2008

Postscript 2 - Why didn't he drive?


USA Today's lead editorial for this weekend's issue (dated November 21, 2008) begins by discussing the new found humility on Wall Street and in the banking industry. The publication then shifts to the auto industry, "where the CEO's of the Big Three flew their private jets to Washington this week to demand $25 billion in taxpayer help. Their principle argument was that they were holding the U.S. economy hostage, and would make it suffer if they did not get their money."

The editorial goes on to note that the CEOs were told to return to Congress with a plan on December 2nd. "Essentially... (the) message was this: The testimony the executives gave was a failure; they should go home, think things over and come back when they have something meaningful to offer."

The editorial concludes with a somewhat familiar thought: "It was a clear message to the auto executives that one way or another... they have to come to grips with reality. One way to signal they are doing so would be to deliver their plan to Capitol Hill by car pool, not by private jet."

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