Remember this man..Lee Iacocca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted July 17th, 2008 by strikeforce
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Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He's now 82 years old and 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 gang 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've 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 ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine Cs of leadership, crisis being
the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with 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 hand 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 biggest 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 you look around, you've got to ask:'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where 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. Storms 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 debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health 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 spine 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 experience d 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 pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'me all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and
care about. It's our country, folks; and it's our future. Our future is at
stake!
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Mr. Iacocca's Blog - Please reply
http://leeiacocca.blogspo...
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Correct me if I'm wrong.
This coming from the same Lee Iacocca that received a government bail out.
"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy...You have to understand most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it". - Morpheus
Before making up your mind, one way or the other, the
questions raised, about Mr. Iacocca's support of Dr. Paul, may have to do with timing. Although not offered as a defense of Mr. Iacocca, the citation posted is from Mr. Iacocca's book: "Where Have All The Leaders Gone", which was published in 2007, although I do not know the exact date of release. Unless I'm mistaken, Dr. Paul announced his candidacy sometime around March of 2007. Given lead times in the publishing industry, I suggest the possibility that Mr. Iacocca may not have been aware of Dr. Paul's entry into the presidential race in a timeframe that would have allowed mention of his opinion regarding Dr. Paul, at least within the pages of his book.
Having said that, I think it's still a valid question to ask where Mr. Iacocca has issued any kind of public endorsement regarding Dr. Paul since that time. I like the idea of writing to him. I propose to undertake to do exactly that. I hope others will also take a few minutes to correspond with him as well. Many thanks to wninja for providing the links.
Best regards.
_________________________________________
"An economy built on fiat money is a society on its way to ashes."
Do you know how long we 'try' to wake people like him up?'Until'
WE SIMPLY TRY 'UNTIL' IT HAPPENS- WE DON'T GIVE UP. I DON'T LIKE THIS 'BITTER' AND SIMPLY RESENTFUL TONE I'M GETTING...
I AGREE- HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN BEHIND RON PAUL- BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON HE 'HAS NOT'- AS OF YET.
WE SIMPLY KEEP PUSHING... IF HE IS SINCERE (which I think he is) IT MIGHT JUST TAKE CONTINUAL PERSISTENCE...
WE DO IT 'UNTIL.' 'UNTIL' IT WORKS...
Think about it- Ron Paul didn't give up. He could have LONG ago given up trying to wake people up. He could have gotten so frustrated he just threw in the towel. BUT he didn't- he just continued, and here we are today. 'IF' he had given up, we wouldn't even be on this website. Period.
WE CONTINUE 'UNTIL.'
Write to him then
http://www.leeiacocca.net...
http://www.iacoccafoundat...
If it's that important to you then you must be willing to carry the ball.
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This NEEDS to be digged- HE '''CAN''' COME AROUND- Period.
OK- for whatever reason he didn't get behind Ron Paul- BUT, '''BUT''' that doesn't mean he can't.
I think it is SOOO important we make a huge presence in Minnesota, MAYBE THEN he will see there is a group of highly dedicated patriots that are NOT going along with things- and MAYBE it will start to sink in, 'WE' are the ones he has talked about that we need.
C'mon guys- for a lot of people it takes a while for Ron Paul's 'TRUTH' to get past the Main Stream Media's black out...
GIVE HIM AN ADDITIONAL CHANCE- WE SHOULDN'T GIVE UP ON HIM, I'M '''''DEAD''''' SERIOUS ON THIS.
DO NOT GIVE UP ON HIM
I don't think we have the 'luxury' of feeling bitter and angry toward him- WE can't just 'accept' that people haven't awaken to this situation AND 'won't' realize/accept that Ron Paul has a plan- WE MUST NOT GIVE UP.
He didn't support Ron Paul.
When the support of "big name" people would have mattered, and through their own name recognition it would have drawn attention to RP, where was he? Screw Iacocca! He did not do anything to change the course when all odds were on the table, and I do not hear him mentioning RP now either, I will not buy his book and give him any support, he has not earned it, nor any respect.
_________________________________
"Truth is treason in the Empire of Lies."
Correct.
Yes, he doesn't do anything; he's just a whiner. If he really believed what he said, he'd have jumped all over the Ron Paul campaign. And you're right, such a move by him and others really would have provided a boost. I suspect that what Iacocca wants is simply more socialism.
______________________________________________________
Don't waste time with Obama, McCain, Nader or Barr - join the Campaign For Liberty! http://www.campaignforlib... The Constitution is more important than voting for the evil of 4 lessers.
read the book
what two yeasr ago? I would agree where is the follow up lee?
Liberty = Responsibility
Iacocca was AWOL
I spoke at length during the primary with his assistant. I forwarded her lots of literarture, emails, videos, etc.
She stated Lee wanted to see who the nominees entire team would be...he was not going to support or endorse anyone...he is promoting ideals...etc., etc.
My conclusion, he is one who will not do anything. He will only complain about what is being done.
So far, all talk, no action.
He could have made a huge impact for the Glorious Cause of Liberty only if he had a little more courage.
Lee get off of the sideline... "Stand up for America! Stand up for the Constituion - All of It!"
Write to him. Tell him to
Write to him. Tell him to put his money were his mouth is and donate to dvds4delegates.
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Think about it...
Lee Iacocca is an impressive individual, and based on his accomplishments, his views have the potential to resonate with millions of Americans. So, where was he when Ron Paul was actively campaigning for the presidency? From Mr. Iacocca's statements, one would assume that he would be thrilled at the prospect of a Ron Paul presidency. Unfortunately, when the time was right, Mr. Iacocca, like so many others, remained silent. Do you honestly think that he doesn't know who Ron Paul is, and what he stands for? Impossible.
Let's get him on board
Anyone know where he stands in this presidential election?
I only need to see one word to know what he is
although I also know he does not understand a guy trying to make a business work from my veiwpoint in small town America. My business took a hit in the year 2000 I didn't receive any help from anyone and went out of business it cost the jobs of 9 workers all married with with about 14 children The key word that tells me what he is is in this part:
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.
We are not a Democracy we are a Republic. He is incapable of understanding what we know. He would have to change his whole belief system to even begin to get it. He went through the depression. So did my grandparent and they thought FDR was the best president ever cause he gave them a job. The same people that starved them to death right before the majority started dropping dead. They made them an offer they couldn't refuse "well give you a job if you go down and get this little card with a number on it". Talk about the biggest hijack ever to take place. Now I carry the mark of my grandparents agreement with them. I love my grandparents but right now there are five generations of children and grandchildren sold into slavery for that one job. God only knows what our offer will be when they get us to the food lines. I mean what else is there to take from a man once he is your slave. The only thing I can think of is the sum total of his labor, his identity (person), or his soul. Which one of these things will you be willing to give away for the next 5 generations in your family.
Good Book
I have to say overall this was a really good book. It will attract a different crowd to the message. I wish he would have mentioned Ron Paul. He mentioned some other person as his hero that voted wrong the first time, but then "corrected it" later. He also obnoxiously made Castro into some kind of good guy, which almost made me puke. Any book sending a message out that we need to demand better leadership and that might get a couple of people to think is a good thing.
Bail'em out?
Banks win big time and then ya got The Unions and allot of citizens and towns and vendors, on and on and on... I say let'em fail, maybe the next time they will get it right.
Just the same old tried and true fear factor, "Keep your eye on the money trail and see who "really" benefits from a bailout the most???
Bankruptcy and Conrail merger
The American financial system was seriously shocked when after only two years of operations, Penn Central declared bankruptcy on June 21, 1970. It was the largest corporate bankruptcy in American history up until that time. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ]
Penn Central was the nation's largest railroad with 96,000 employees and a payroll of $20 million a week. In 1970, it also became the nations biggest bankruptcy. It was deeply in debt to just about every bank that was willing to lend it money, and that list included Chase Manhattan [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], Morgan Guaranty [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], Manufacturers Hanover [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], First National City [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], Chemical Bank [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ] and Continental Illinois [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ].
Officers of the largest of those banks had been appointed to Penn Central's board of directors as a condition for obtaining funds, and they gradually had aquired control over the railroad's management. The banks also held large blocks of Penn Central stock in their trust departments. The arrangement was convenient in many ways, not the least of which was that the bankers sitting on the board of directors were privy to information, long before the public recieved it, which would affect the market price of Penn Central's stock. Chris Welles, in the "The Last Days of the Club"[ http://www.amazon.com/Pas... ], describes what happened: On May 21, a month before the railroad went under, "David Bevan", Penn Central's chief financial officer, privately informed representatives of the company's banking creditors that its financial condition was so weak it would have to postpone an attemptto raise$100 million in desperately needed operating funds through a bond issue. Instead, said Bevan, the railroad would seek some kind of government loan guarantee. In other words, unless the railroad could manage a federal bailout, it would have to close down. The following day, [Chase Manhattan's] trust department sold "134,300" shares of its Penn Central holdings. Before May 28, when the public was informed of the postponement of the bond issue, Chase sold another "128,000" shares. David Rockefeller [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], the banks chairman, vigorously denied Chase had acted on the basis of inside information.
More to the point of this study is the fact that virtually all of the major management decisions which led to Penn Central's demise were made by or with the concurrence of its board of directors, which is to say, by the banks that provided the loans. In other words, the bankers were not in trouble because of Penn Central's poor management, they [were] Penn Central's poor management. An investigation conducted in 1972 by Congressman Wright Patman [ http://en.wikipedia.org/w... ], Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee, revealed the following: The banks provided large loans for disastrous expansion and diversification projects. They loaned additional millions to the railroads so it could pay dividends to its stockholders. This created the false appearance of prosperity and artificially inflated the market price of its stock long enough to dump it on the unsuspecting public. Thus, the banker-managers were able to engineer a three-way bonanza for themselves. They received dividends on essentially worthless stock, earned interest on the loans which provided the money to pay those dividends, and were able to unload 1.8 million shares of stock--after the dividends, of course--at unrealistically high prices. Reports from the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the company's top executives had disposed of their stock in this fashion at a personal savings of more then $1 million.
Had the railroad been allowed to go into bankruptcy at that point and been forced to sell off its assets, the bankers still would have been protected. In any liquidation, debtors are paid off first, stockholders last; so the manipulators had dumped most of their stock while prices were relatively high. That is a common practice among corporate raiders who use borrowed funds to seize control of a company, bleed off its assets to other enterprises which they also control, and then toss the debt-ridden, dying carcass upon the remaining stockholders or, in this case, the taxpayers... [ http://www.amazon.com/Cre... ] p.41-43
Yeah, I remember Lee Iacocca. He's a corporate welfare queen.
The man "saved" Chrysler by getting the congress to make the taxpayers assume the risk of default on a massive pile of loans. To hell with him, and with any other corporate manager who goes crying to the government for a bailout.
-jcr
Yeah, and now he's trying to do...
Ron Paul in drag. Find a different stage' cuz we've got the real deal!
umm didn't he repay all those loans??
http://www.theautochannel...
scroll down to the this....
1983 Chevy Corvette
- Chrysler repays its federally insured loans seven years early.
Yeah, they were repaid. So what?
That doesn't change the fact that he stayed in business by getting the congress to put the taxpayers on the hook to back him up. The money lent to chrysler wasn't available to lend to other business.
-jcr
OK point made...
you are right of course there should not be "special treatment" for one business and not another....I do not know all the specifics, but it does seem that he got special treatment for Chrysler...above and beyond other companies...
Sure wish
someone would tell him about Ron Paul. What the hell. We are fighting we could sure use him. Anyone know him or can email him. Peace
bump... another book I need
bump... another book I need to buy!
I remember
I remember the man who rescued a bloated, crappy car company by lobbying for a government bailout paid for by taxpayers. Is that the guy we are talking about here?
It wasn't a 'handout' it was
It wasn't a 'handout' it was a loan. It was paid back in full.
And, yes, he does know how to light a fire.
What Devvy Kidd has to say about the bail out of Chrysler...
As James K. Hickel, of the Heritage Foundation so accurately pointed out in 1983: "In the case of the Chrysler bail-out, a big chunk of taxpayer money was committed to a shaky and inappropriate venture. Every American became an involuntary and uncompensated partner in a company whose future is still in doubt. On top of this, the bail-out even failed in its purpose. The precedent established is extremely dangerous."
Not only was it a dangerous precedent and in violation of the supreme law of the land, here we are 25 years down the road: "Chrysler to lay off thousands of salaried workers, cut 750 job at Ohio plant. The white-collar cuts come on top of the 13,000 layoffs Chrysler announced in February as part of a massive restructuring plan."
The first question
that comes to mind is how much was he paid for his effort in turning Chrysler around and what was the package when he left?
It was unconstitutional.
Sorry, begging off with "it was a loan" doesn't wash. It was just as wrong to make the taxpayers assume the risk of Chrysler going under as it is to make the taxpayers foot the bill for bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Lee Iacocca is NOT one of the good guys.
-jcr
A loan
I didn't agree to loan him any money. Why didn't I get any interest? What about the people who couldn't borrow money for their enterprise because this fascist used it to bail out his failing business? The forgotten men.
If it was 'just a loan" why couldn't he get it from a commercial bank? Answer: because he was a bad risk. So I, as a taxpayer, was forced to carry a risk that nobody with any choice in the matter would carry and I got squat in return. THAT, my friend, is a bailout at taxpayer's expense. It is unconstitutional AND bad policy. Unprofitable businesses should go out of business and release their resources to profitable enterprises.
Hitler also knew how to light a fire.