REMEMBER LEE IACOCCA ? TRUE - CHECKED IT OUT ON SNOPES Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'. Lee Iacocca Starts his book: 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 , theMiddle 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 C's of leadership, with 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 experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's 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 'em 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!!
At this point all I can do is try and refrain from contributing monetarily to morons and vote my conscience, granted its like screaming in a wind tunnel here in Northern California. I feel more and more like my great-grandparents who kept their politics to themselves and their ballots because to do otherwise could cost you your job or worse. I have managed to bring my husband and mother over to the side of reason and to actually want to vote, but beyond that, I just have too much to protect to get out and freak out.
whats really aggravating is that, the person who I would really have faith in, the person who i would really want to stand behind, will never run for a meaningful office. I am not thinking of anyone in particular, but a person who will actually SAY some of the crap like he does. God forbid you take a firm stand and don't give a "well ill have to see and evaluate and we will investigate to determine what could possibly be the appropriate outcome for you, the American people" cause that doesn't tell me a god damn thing. This is why I could never run for an office. This is also why we are probably doomed. That and people being afraid to offend someone. We have got to have the thinnest skinned, cry baby, sissified group of citizens of all time right now (and the sad part is that much of MY generation is responsible for that). As much as i HATE this man...he is right on here when he talks about the "values of America". (this piece is about feminism but the bit on America is what im talking about) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oop5fY755Jo
Very true...the female insight and thought process is running and ruining this country. I know this and am a poster child...I grew up with 4 sistas, and my Mom, now everyday I have to cower down to 4 women in my home, and they take every advantage of it...I am the fixer of all things, the stupid decision maker, the reason behind all things bad, the BASTARD who left the seat up, didn't put my shoes away, who didn't clean the sink after I shaved or a plethora of things women complain about. Men used to have control of the household, work place and this country....political correctness and sensitivity to all, have worsened this, and vagina is the cause....If it weren't for pussy, women would have a bounty. (I'll need a place to live if my wife reads this...anyone?)
LOL, sweet, but my wife and three daughters would just hunt me down like Upgradde in Idiocricy ...Two D's for double the pimpin! (love that movie...hehe).
LOL,,, Lee is right on the money. We have an idiot at the wheel right now. Political correctness is our biggest problem. So what if we(usa) piss off other country's. We need to take care of ourself first. That includs dealing with N Korea. They have already made theats on HI. ( that's going to be a mess) Public health care will sink us. Yes it's expensive. But so is another giagantic government run red tape machine if they take over health care. Here in Mn we had Jesse Ventura for a Govenor. Not great as a politition, but I really loved the way he spoke his mind and screw you if you didn't like it. alright,,, I'm done.
I agree! Jesse was the man! for that exact reason, I cant take it anymore! wtf are they thinking, I aint seen 1 thing change since this dude rolled up! Although he did promise change and things sure have fucking changed! I thnk the biggest problem were facing is the fact that there saying we will be ok, Shit runs in cycles, No this here shit aint part of no cycle! this here is unchartered territory! WTF are you thinking! Can I have my job backl now! It isnt funny anymore!! Fucker!! Oh and Im part of the rat race!! :dumb:
The shine is waring off, and I think the media is starting to see thru the haze. I'm hoping someone pulls the brake before the train wreck.
