Harvard Business Publishing

Don't know why the sixth rule immediately brought Walmart to my mind...

I do see the old rules leading to value destruction in my industry - but what I find most challenging is the question of how and who can change these rules, and what their motivation would be for doing so?

You are absolutely right when you describe your approach as 'radical change' - but radical change requires radical motivation, and it seems at this point that not even a melt-down/bailout is strong enough incentive for anyone with influence to reflect on changing the fundamental strategic rules of business.

Umair - your Voice is the only one I have heard suggesting such huge changes. It seems that there needs to be very fundamental structural changes made before strategic shifts such as those you describe can be made ie: the market no longer rewarding companies for short term gains with increased share prices before real change in Boardroom strategy can happen and CEO's and Board's hear your messages echoed in the mainstream business press and by analysts etc

Or are you suggesting that this (r)evolution will only occur with newer companies? Those starting from scratch as Google, Threadless and Apple have (well - Apple aren't starting from scratch but just making a comeback from years spent in the wilderness) who have a better ability to write their own rules as they go, as opposed to those lumbered by market expectations and management with decades of 'doing things the old way.'

Do incumbents have no choice but strategic, leading to actual death? How do we champion these changes when CEO tenure is less than 3 years, and rewards are driven by short term outcomes only?

I'm pretty sure that the readership of this blog is signifcantly more experienced in buisness than I am so I'd welcome any comments.

Shai Agassi has some good ideas for a 21st century American auto industry that plays by the new rules. Obama should kickstart it in Hawaii.

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-09/ff_agassi

Great article. Also, an outline for a great book, if you so choose.

I'm curious, where does the massive anchor of pensions and unions appear on this list? Very unfortunately, Detroit's got itself in such a terrible state that until they can shed these two, I don't see how a bailout is anything but throwing money down a dark well.

Your rules are great, but Detroit's going to have to screw it workers in order to make it to the future. Should that be rule #7?

Umair:

I want to reread a few times. But I do think we should pick up on Nick W's comment about compensation.

One of my former colleagues always said to me, "Aaron given the opportunity people invariably act in their own economic self-interest." I think that that the wall street/public company landscape and all of the ancillary businesses that contribute to that ecosystem are structured to think short-term.

What's missing for me when I read this post is the how-to manual for implementing your strategic initiatives. Entrepreneurs will be able to evaluate their ideas against a different/crisis/constructive litmus test. But executing the vision in a way that follows through on these convictions will be exceedingly more difficult. The management challenges required to break traditions and structures that all 20th century institutions -- corporate and NGO -- have in them. I really worry that the constructive/dogood revolution will be severely retarded by institutional inertia.

Hello,

A very fine article on what has gone wrong. The question stands:

How to change the system now and then?

A quite similar discussion we are having at https://www.xing.com/app/forum?op=showarticles;id=9074565

Would not the fundamental rule be that Detroit should not look towards the auto-industry as a means for renewal, but instead become a human transportation industry, which neither includes nor precludes automobiles? Perhaps a diversification into creating well networked and efficient public transportation?

thanks for the sharing the post.

not bailing would be counter to any stimulus package. so, we can assume - it will happen. in this context, it also seems likely that some big public works project will attempt to kick-start the economy.

so why not combine the two?

instead of allocating everything to building new bridges etc,...why not use the newly acquired and publicly owned detroit, and combine it w/ all the excess HOPEGASM coursing through the countries veins, in a spirit that embodies John F."Mars" Kennedy and Martin "Unity" Luther King -- (AKA Obama).

we.one ;)

I read this blog post yesterday, and then I saw the following headline this afternoon:

Auto Execs Fly Corporate Jets to D.C., Tin Cups in Hand

very disappointing :(

Clinton, thanks for NAFTA, that sure helped all manufacturing businesses(sarcasm).

Congress, thanks for not adorning foreign imports with high taxes and tariffs like the Japanese do on US made cars to prohibit purchase.

P.S. Contrary to the wording the media likes use and refer to this as a "bailout". This is a request for a LOAN, it would have to be repaid. Hmmm, seems FMac, FMae, and AIG win only because the Feds had their hands in all of that mess from the outset!!!

The larger shift in social inversion of values will shift the business mindsets and force the changes you suggest. It's been a long time coming. The challenge has been and will continue to be getting enough weight in numbers of the population to demand these changes.

We're at that leverage point, a social jujutsu is occurring. The tired and clumsy incumbent system is hitting the mat hard.

If baby boomers was the most recent generation to prime the pump of change, the current generation will be the muscle that builds the new forms.

Psychological maturity in our organizations and in society at large requires the courage to be radical. The same forces that you describe behind the old strategy paradigm benefit from a kind of psychological immaturity inherent in society—a passive acquiescence to self-degenerating influences. They rely upon ignorant and immature consumers, instead of citizens as active participants.

There are plenty voices of reason and compromise to soften the fall. But we must have the radical declarations and demands as you put forth in order to instigate and agitate for change that will actually work.

Thanks for the word.

One simple rule..........Price to build compared to the competition. Unions and corporate must both stream line and cut cost dramatically and it will be painful. The bail out will come, but it is a very poor band aid. Toyota must be wondering how it got so good at building great cars at $40.00 per hour. While the big three can only produce them at $75.00 per hour.

When I was at Harvard for a marketing seminar I remember the joy of learning to simplify problems to root cause. Its painful, but simple.

Mike

Big business is short on vision and values - something their founders built great companies on...

Mark

This week’s hearing in Washington with the leadership of American auto makers was a PR disaster. Consider this. Hey America, we don’t know exactly how long an additional $25 Billions of bail out money will last but we really need it real soon. Oh yeah, unless you approve this additional $25 Billion then I’ll be forced to sell my Gulfstream jet.

Now when asked by the government how many of the auto industry representatives at the hearings flew into Washington on private jets, all of them raised their hands. Then when asked how many have plans to sell their jets this month, no one raised their hands.

And we wonder why America has lost confidence in the leadership of corporate America. We wonder how our government and major industries could not see the economic crisis coming. Well it is pretty simple when you consider the arrogant attitudes and stupidity of what was witnessed in public display yesterday in Washington. And these were the supposed leaders of one of America's largest and oldest industries. Go figure.

This was an example of old school thinking which has brought on current economic problems. In order to change the thinking it is likely the thinker needs to be replaced. Why? Because whatever social capital and credibility you had coming into these hearings was totally lost as a result of your actions and words.

Dear Mr. Auto Executive:

Southwest flies into the DC area and they along with the other airlines could use the revenue. Lets see, a Gulfstream Jet cost roughly $20,000 for the trip to DC. That represents a lot of trips on a commercial jet even if you flew first class. And you expect the american public to support the government giving you another $25 billion to bail you out? Go figure

Get it? What say you?

The big bad evil corporation strikes again!

It's real simple. Unions have the same effect on companies as big government regulations and protectionism. It attempt to protect the weak workers and all it does eventually is take down the good ones. Without the ability to adjust to market conditions you can not survive. The real lesson learned? When Obama and the Dems takes the same approach in the United States government, America will fail just as the big three.

Let the free market work. If these companies can't make it then new ones will fill the void and create jobs and wealth. If they made all of these mistakes they should fail. What about the Unions and their expectations and their role in this? How about an article on that!

If we blame the Japanese, then we are right back where we started. The Japanese build cars in America, competitively and with great quality. Only in Detroit do we speak of and blame the Japanese. Detroit and the UAW are oblivious to what is going on in the rest of the country. The problems of the US auto industry go back to the fact that the industry refuses to look past today. Greed makes people live for today and not tomorrow. Who cares if we exist tomorrow? I want my two SUVs in my driveway, my boat in my yard, my big screen tv and my cabin up north. Who cares if my children have jobs when they grow up? Who cares if Michigan closes up shop and moves south? Neither the executives nor the UAW will concede. Instead, we will all end up with nothing because of greed. Forget all the theories and what happend. It's all about greed and irresponsibility. And remember, if the Japanese can do it in our own backyard, so can we, even better. But if we are not willing to sacrifice like those before us who built this country, then we are doomed. We just don't seem to learn from the past. We are America don't forget, once a proud and most powerful nation in the world. We're just a little spoiled right now.

Yesterday I saw in their three faces and attitudes:

•LACK OF LEADERSHIP, only the arrogance of entitlement. Neither one stands up for something else than requesting help.
•IGNORANCE, they don’t know how much money they need to overcome these times, at least an estimate. Neither one are in touch with THE ACTUAL US. REALITY AND ITS FACTS.
•NO FACE VALUE, neither one came out with an UnRefusable Offer to US taxpayers.

One lesson of life I’ve learned when crisis happens:
1.Be Humble and learn,
2.Act upon and learn,
3.Adapt and learn,
4.Check own accountability and learn,
5.Go to step 1.

I hope at least one of them can:
•Come up with a POWERFUL PROPOSAL from a critical mass of committed people of his company for the next three years.
•Establish REAL LEADERSHIP beyond these circumstances here in US and Worldwide by reducing the Ownership’s Total Cost of Safe Road Transportation of their new vehicles.

I have the impression they still have the power to make things happen if they grasp the required courage, knowledge and leadership.

Umair: I wholeheartedly agree with avoding a bailout that simply postpones the death of a horrible model for operating a business.

A couple of thoughts on the analysis of the mistakes and new rules for success.

Regarding point #5. I would suggest that agility is exactly what Detroit needs and that you more accurately describe this mistake as "gaming the system". The big three have avoided the discipline of building true organisational agility by trying to create a privileged position through government patronage. Your points 2, 3, 4 and 6 indicate how to build eminently agile organisations.

Regarding old rule #1. I would add a word in defense of "unrepentantly and sociopathically evil" "industrial era business".
Most of the employment created in industrialised economies is in small businesses. Many of these you could categorize as "industrial era businesses". Many of them have a deep sense of purpose and of their role in providing value and meaning to customers, employees, suppliers/partners and the communities they form a part of.
The big three have been operated in a way that can be understood as "evil". This is neither a necessary nor universal destiny for industrial era companies.
As you state in other points, it is more a question of ethics and purpose - individual choices always.

Umair,

Quite a thought provoking article and the same can be said for everyone's comments.

Indeed, plenty of blame can be shared for the current state of the American auto industry. However, one overarching problem this industry cannot seem to get its head around or admit to is the poor quality and design of their vehicles, both of which are incomparable to non-American auto manufacturers.

Here in Scottsdale American auto dealerships are practically giving their vehicles away just to move inventory, but their lots are overflowing with vehicles. It has been this way for well over the past year.

Unless this industry begins designing and building vehicles the public wants to buy no amount of taxpayer money is going to save them in the long run.

A thought provoking article and great ideas posted by all to reflect upon. The key learning in all of this dialogue that really stuck with me is "learning to simplify problems to root cause". We are going to have great difficulty solving our problems if we do not get to root cause.
A key area to focus our attention on would be the root cause of our leadership problems. We need to get to the root cause of our leadership dilemma in our organizations and in government. This will require a new leadership foundation for the 21st century. Without an strong, appropriate leadership foundation, we cannot build anything sustainable. Pointing fingers and reminding us of greed gives us the negatives, but not the solutions. Check out a new book entitled " The Power of Leadership Foundation First" - Four Must Have Principles for Collaborative Advantage. Based on leadership thesis work and real world business experience . . . this book gets to the heart of our leadership dilemma and gives us a new, prototype leadership model and a common language for all of us to work with in our continuing dialogues. The author's mission is to help evolve our leaders and organizations in a positive direction for a better, more collaborative and successful world !

I have difficulty with the whole thesis of the post--that the business world changed in a heartbeat, and some light was switched on that suddenly made the Big Three obsolete. Dividing the problem into "old rules" and "new rules" is a drastic oversimplification of a situation that has been emerging for thirty, perhaps forty years.

These six rules are pablum, not deep thinking. Let's take new rule #1, for instance. It's easy to command companies to "choose good," but Google ("Don't be evil")'s example shows that "goodness" is in the eye of the beholder. Large enterprises will find themselves with enemies and opponents no matter how good their intent may be--they will have to balance self-interest and community interest every step of the way.

I am happy to learn, according to rule #4, that I and my fellow citizens have gotten a lot smarter since 2000 about understanding the distinction between differentiation and difference, but those "zombified, braindead consumers of the 20th century" were the ones who saw value in Toyotas, Hondas, BMWs and the like, and stopped buying Chevys and Fords. That process started in the 1970's.

There's tons of blame to assign to Ford, GM and Chrysler for the situation they find themselves in. They don't warrant excuses for their management decisions or their behavior. There may be a great book written someday about what went wrong with them, but I doubt it will involve these six rules.

regards, John

It's always easy to have "20/20" vision when looking in the rear view mirror. I think Detroit has been very aware of several of these issues for years, but has not been able to fix them. There's a highly antagonist relationship between management and unions that's hampered the competitiveness of the American industry. How does one go about fixing that quickly??

I'm intrigued with the comments about self-interest and how they might relate to technical innovation. Innovation applies at(at least)two levels. First is how innovative companies are at delivering products the way customers want to receive them. And then there's the phenomenon of basic research and bringing totally new technologies into the industry. The post clearly deals with the first issue. More troubling to me is how our industries are falling behind from a technology standpoint. You can have all the social, competitive, and customer awareness in the world, but if you lack capability, you will fail.

blah, blah, blah. It's easy to rattle of a bunch of stuff that sounds good, but are you willing to pay for it?

I agree with Jim, this starts with getting rid of the unions and pensions who have a stranglehold on US manufacturing and services.

Regarding Rule #2: Corporate myopia has been discussed for at least the last 20 years. As long as corporate rewards, e.g., share value, are based on short-term goals, e.g., next quarter earnings report, myopia will remain the corprate vision of choice.

Great article. You mentioned big music, big pharma, & big food.
Well, I work for big oil and we've probably been guilty of some of those behaviours. Actually forget probably, definitely. But with the spate of mergers over the last decade, and a lot of the 'dead wood' getting thrown out along with the 'the world owes the oil industry a living' attitude came a sea change in our attitudes as an industry. We've realized that forging alliances and partnerships are the way: globally we're working with the UN on environmental and health issues in the communities where we operate and I've just started work on a global program for the industry on green driving - encouraging people to use less fuel. What??? Selling less product??? The old guys would turn in their grave. But when you get used to the new paradigm, its amazing where it leads... in terms of reprioritizing investment, opportuntities to make cleaner fuels instead of more fuel, etc. etc. Are we shiny white? No. But we're getting cleaner.

I agree with many aspects of the article. However in the realm of costs not only are there the pensions and high union labor, but why doesn't anyone ever address US healthcare. It continues to rise by double digit percentages every year and is a huge cost to businesses.

A national healthcare plan would be beneficial to all US businesses.

Yes Diane, but be careful what you wish for. Here in the UK we have a national healthcare system. It is free for all at the point of delivery, and it has become bloated to the point where it is the nations largest employer. The individuals in the system are as committed and skilled as you will find anywhere but partly because it is a government bureaucracy it doesn't deliver first world health care consistently and timeously. Part of the problem is the fact that people don't appreciate anything that is free, and the system is extensively abused. So yes a National Healthcare system but not a taxpayer-subsidized-completely-free healthcare system. At some point, people have to start taking responsibility for their own health. When the government takes on that responsibility....

The article is thought-provoking as expected. What really struck me was that the Detroit CEOs could not make a proper case - no estimates, no comment on what they would use the loan for, weren't sure if they might have to come back for more.

If I went to a back with a loan application for my business but could not explain how much I need, what I am going to use the funds for and answer whether I may need to borrow more to succeed, it would be denied.

If costs are your problem, you have to show that you are working to reduce them. While GM has cut white-collar workers tremendously and got the unions to allow them to hire new workers at a lower hourly rate, they have yet to cut a single one of their many nameplates.

Toyota and Honda manufacture most of the cars sold in the US right here with no problems. They don't need to run "employee discount" sales to sell cars, they don't over-produce units and they don't have an absurd number of nameplates with separate budgets.

The US customer has voted with their wallet and even if GM could sell in Japan, it wouldn't help because they continue to lose market share in the USA. If you can't compete on home turf, why are complain about foreign markets?

This is also proof of why tying healthcare to your place of employment is a dumb idea. Healthcare should be available regardless of your employee. Obama's exchange with private and public plans will be welcome and finally shift healthcare burdens from Detroit (and other businesses).

The pension plans are pretty much funded for now for GM so that is less of a concern for me. I just hope that when Detroit gets the loan, they won't be lobbying against fuel standards or public transport.

Detroit should be building the light rail vehicles for the USA in the future.

One lesson of life I’ve learned when crisis happens:
1.Be Humble and learn,
2.Act upon and learn,
3.Adapt and learn,
4.Check own accountability and learn,
5.Go to step 1.

Excellent discussion. This '5-step' program is great.

My feeling is that in the long term it will not pay trying to protect organizations that seem to have gone out of their way to impose products on consumers (watch the documentary "Who killed the electric car" - you can see an advert for it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsJAlrYjGz8).

I agree with Jim "Let the free market work. If these companies can't make it then new ones will fill the void and create jobs and wealth".

Meanwhile Obama's government should use the proposed bail out money to help people who have worked in these industries to go through this transition ie. new jobs for the able, guarantee the pensions of people who have worked hard all their life etc etc.

The key is in fluidity, and thus to move away from Detroit and into the stream of change that flows to a new sea of opportunity ....

Its unfortunate that the retirees of the auto industry will carry the blunt of this crisis. But then again when you dance with the devil....
The majority of my family worked and retired from 1 of the big 3.
While they are family, I am not prepared to spend the rest of my days as well as that of my children and grand children to bail out a poorly ran company.
I spent most of my life in the service of my country driving back and forth to work in a used Toyota or Nissan unable to afford the costs of the Detroit manufactured autos.
One simple question? If you had to purchase a vehicle today that would have to last you for the next 20 years would it be from one of the Big 3? I don't think so.

US is suffering because of a concept- which in EMEA is called UNDERHANDED INFLUENCING or CORRUPTION - respectably called LOBBYING, and guys in power suits in power corridors named LOBBYISTS.
They maneuver and influence SENATORS/ H.O.R using cash,perks,travel and kind, so that they, the BIG CORPORATIONS and the CEO, MD, VP, CTO, CIO, Board and their family members ultimately benefit..
Did anybody notice when these BIG CORPORATIONS were going down and begging the FED for stimulus ( nice name !!) they were being called INSTITUTIONS..
hmmm...
Get those scum and that crap out and a lot of change will come in US and the world...

I offer one additional nomination for the 7th mistake. The old rule: Don't Screw up- take no risk.

The new rule: Change is needed- innovation is encouraged.

Umair,

Great ideas. It seems like many old-style corporations cling to the corporate culture of the 20th century much like people in the first decade of the 20th century lived in a fantasy world - can you say Titanic?

I agree with the examples of Porsche and BMW, but also take a look at some of the made-in-China "Chery" cars that I'm starting to see here in Peru, with no US brand anywhere in sight:

http://wwelvaert.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/this-chery-is-for-real/

Ward Welvaert
Cusco, Peru
www.lifeinperu.com

Sorry Umair but I believe that a Jag is not just a Ford with a premium trim package. Jag has its own designers, assembly plants and dealer network. It ain't a Ford.

I guess I like to see comments kept simple. I'm one of those people who are not impressed by style. "By confusing selfishness with self-interest, Detroit vaporized it's own purpose - and will stay trapped in a wilderness of economic meaninglessess until it rediscovers it." (hunh? WTF?) Can anyone tell me the name a Company whose Board will tell its shareholders that, "Our stock price is in the dumper because we've confused self-interest with selfishness."

And lastly, the US auto companies aren't selling cars because they can't design what the American public wants. Thats idiotic. Ford sold over 5 million vehicles last year. Someone is buying them. Toyota and Honda's sales are down 25-30% as well. If only they could make a car America wants. To say the Big 3 are in the shape they're in because no one buys their cars is like saying the housing industry is in trouble because they keep building ugly houses with horrible floor plans.

Very insightful and thought provoking. Wonder how Detroit will react!!

Industrial Era business is not evil. It is business. If people act in ways that are inappropriate, illegal or immoral then it is their actions which are evil.

You missed the point that Toyota as well as many other manufacturers dating back to the 70's (cameras, VCRs, DVDs, TVs) bump their products on our shores below their cost to manufacture the goods in order to steal the business and shift the industry. You make no mention of their evil ways.

Let's move on to patenting, trade marking, and litigating. If you invent a widget that has real value why are you not allowed to protect it? Look at Chinese knock offs. They are known for international piracy (software, electronics and appliances). Should we do nothing to prevent another person, company, nation for benefiting from our ingenuity? That does not sound right.

One last point, corporations are not in business for authentic advantage for buyers, suppliers, customers, consumers, and society. They are in business to address a need within the market. Some make money at it and some don't. Some business models are better than others and some products are better than others. The market decides what it wants, likes and needs.

If you want to change/improve society I would appreciate it if you would send me the money you received from your evil corporate publisher at your evil educational institution for writing this article and I promise I'll spend it on fair market, politically correct, peace loving, green products. By the way, these companies need to make money too.

"People in the 21st century aren't the zombified, braindead consumers of the 20th century. "

Really?! And how old are you, Mr, Haque? Chucked them diapers yet?

A little to facile. And presumptuous: *THE* six critical mistakes? Tell me again, what do you smoke to come up with such stuff? It's good, by the way.

See, it's not that I have any admiration for Detroit -- I detest them. If I was forced by circumstances to work for a Detroit auto company, I'd have to be sufficiently stoned, perennially, to get through the day -- and sleep at night, besides. I have always marveled at how they were able to get away with building and selling such crap. Perhaps Americans suffered from a sort of Stockholm Syndrome, which is why they continued to buy Detroit.

No, I don't believe that you have diagnosed the problem at all. Nobody would disagree with your prescriptions, but they don't seem to be mutually exclusive with respect to your diagnosed THE SIX MISTAKES. Entertaining, no more than that.

The Detroit three failed to go global in our minds. They remained as US brands and tried to impose their values instead of the real or sought values of different global segments(global values). Although they existed in various geographical locations under different brands, their efforts solely based on make up rather than concept.They didn't show any sign of global responsibility.

On the other hand Toyota and Honda although originally Japanese were able to adapt themselves to different markets and also were able to create new ones. These two also positioned themselves as innovative and disruptive global brands being able to solve problems instead of ignoring them.

Blakes gives the standard response that as a society we have outwardly believed in for the last few decades. People in business have to make money to keep the business running and buy enough for their own personal needs. This perspective is good when there are only a limited amount of people exhibiting that kind of behavior. Even if everyone was altruistic in their attitudes and ideas, businesses run to make an increasing profit would eventually run up against each other and someone would get the 'shaft'. What I believe is the 21st century set of rules or attitudes about business removes the perspective that a business needs to always increase its profit. I'm not even going to the extreme that other people have talked about when they mention 'zero growth' models. I am being very moderate when I say that my attitude is similar to when people were very happy just by their ability to grow and eat enough food for themselves and their family. We don't need laws to make people stop taking $125 million dollar payouts. We don't need laws to stop people from abusing the health industry. We don't need laws to help people be kind and compassionate to each other. What we need is a sense of humility and what our role is on our planet. What are we responsible for? Who are we accountable to? Everyone has a chance to choose. No matter what your history is or what you did in the past, you have a choice in the next second to do the compassionate, humane, honest and loving thing. Many, many people will not believe that statement. Many of those people will come up with 'proofs' of why that statement can not work. That is YOUR choice. I choose to believe that I can make a difference in my own life. If by doing that I affect someone else's life, then it gives me hope that we have turned things around. Some common acronyms that I find helpful: FEAR - false evidence appearing real; HOPE - hearing other peoples' experience; GOD - good orderly direction
If nothing else I ask that you make an effort to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle each and every day.

Two comments:

1. What about Walmart? If you want an example of 20th century thinking, you can't get a better one than Ole Wally World.

2. Re: Healthcare. I have a well-paying job in corporate America and need some rather major surgery. I am having a hard time deciding whether or not to have it, because, even though I have medical coverage, I don't think I can afford the surgery. What with all the deductibles, co-pays, and stealth out-of-network providers (like the anesthesiologist), it will cost me over $5,000 - which I don't happen to have stashed away because of the cost of gas to get to work (no mass transit in my world), simple foods to put on my table, etc., etc.

The 21st century economy can't come soon enough for me.

Jancarnation

The entitlement mentality is fully supported by a government that wants to control commerce. It runs deeper than price or job protection when elected representatives view the lobbyist as part of their income stream. Change in that system won't magically happen, but would have to in order to foster change for companies as big as these. (Even Google can't make sweeping changes in telco regulations in the US. Another industry that's loosing ground world wide for the very same reasons.)

The big three have been faced with cars that out-perform and better meet consumer needs since the 70's... They've already had thirty years to address that issue and chose instead to actively serve what they had built rather than the source of their revenue.

Its ironic that these same companies had consumers lining up to buy electric cars that were being shredded. Now they're faced with shredding cars that consumers won't even look at.

Why? Because they've crossed the line from thriving commercial institutions to protecting the legacy of the past. It is all too clear why this bail out will happen and also where it will lead. We've seen it before.

What if there were a different kind of focus from the government, not set on protecting what's there, but fostering new growth? Sure, the big three could "win" some of that money, but odds are they'd have to start with fresh people to even begin to lay out a proposal.