Some Balls....
posted by Jason Swihart on April 12, 2007
This missive from Lee Iacocca, apropos his latest publishing effort, was brought to my attention via Kottke this morning:
Why are we in this mess? How did we end up with this crowd in Washington? Well, we voted for them—or at least some of us did….
Where are the voices of leaders who can inspire us to action and make us stand taller? What happened to the strong and resolute party of Lincoln? What happened to the courageous, populist party of FDR and Truman? There was a time in this country when the voices of great leaders lifted us up and made us want to do better. Where have all the leaders gone?
Personally, I’m not interested in leadership advice from one of the U.S.’s greatest moochers. I can’t forget that Iacocca was instrumental in acquiring the congressional favors that eventually led to the $1.5 billion bailout of Chrysler in 1980. 27 years later, at the age of 82, Iacocca seems not to have figured out that a government populated from the old boys club—in which the currency is influence and back room deals—is not an atmosphere that yields leadership.
In the 80s, Iacocca was instrumental in propping up the current order of politicians and in supporting the status quo of a government subsidized auto and oil industry. The inevitable result of that is the Bush administration: A cadre of mealy-mouthed frat boys who have neither the skills nor the courage to provide leadership and whose only qualifications are the willingness to curry favor, trade deals, and blow smoke up our collective asses.
So here’s another “C” for Lee’s leadership list: You can’t have your CAKE and eat it, too.
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