Some truthful thought for our American pals........

[HoseHead]

The two party system????

Remember Lee Iacocca, the VP at Ford credited with the birth of the Mustang, the man who rescued Chrysler, Corporation from their death throes, and the owner of the famous quote 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way'? Well, he's back! He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.

Lee Iacocca writes:

'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 !

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. George Bush, Dick Chaney and who is this Bozo coming up next? One of the most Liberal Idiots in the U. S. Senate and he is talking about disarming America .. I can't believe the American people are seeing what he is about to do to this country. May God have mercy on us all.

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 all moving offshore. We're getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are the worst in the world. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed ! every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership and we are getting ready to put the most Liberal Senator in the U. S. Senate in as our next President because we want to be fair and elect someone just because of his race. We don't have time to be fair, we need a strong leader.

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 hope 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. Well guess what people? We are having more floods right now. What are we doing to help these people out. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time. Why are we allowing people to build in flood plains anyway? If you build in a flood area, expect to be flooded and deal with it. Don't expect the Government to bail you out.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. All they seem to be thinking now-days is getting themselves bigger salaries and bonuses. 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? likely nothing!

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, 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 and the Senate. 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? I honestly don't think any of you have one!

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 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 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Make a 'real contribution' by sending this to everyone you know and care about......our future is at stake!"

[mr tibbs]

Not bad, it seems like he's pissed and rightfully so. I seem to see eye to eye with him on a lot of issues. That is why I voted for Ron Paul and also voted against any incumbent that was in office, especially the ones who voted for the $700 billion dollar bailout. It's bullshit, and he's 100% right about the press. Why the hell don't the press ask any hard hitting questions anymore? I thought that is what they were there for!

Do you have a link to where you got this HH?

[HoseHead]

Nope. I got it in an email.

I understand it's an excerpt from Iaccoca's book.
Some net search or dropping by Chapter's might help you out.

HH

[Jacampb2]

I too agree with most that was said, the problem is, what is the average guy supposed to do? Civil war? I mean, really, nothing happens if there is just a few million people passing around an email and saying, yeah, god damn, that is right on the money!!! There needs to be action, but calling your senator and voicing your displeasure isn't going to do shit. It all sounds good, it would be awesome to fix our country and make it a great nation again, meanwhile, we are slowly slipping into a third world nation...

[denim]

The average, tax paying, educated American citizen really has no say in what goes on.

[stipud]

Throughout the article he appears to be criticizing nothing but reactionary Bush policies. He states the need for change, rather than staying the course. You would think, then, that his views would coincide with Obama, whose entire campaign was run on the concepts of change and hope.

But then he goes on to say this...

These are times that cry out for leadership and we are getting ready to put the most Liberal Senator in the U. S. Senate in as our next President because we want to be fair and elect someone just because of his race. We don't have time to be fair, we need a strong leader.

Is he fucking serious? Obama got voted in because his campaign of CHANGE appealed to people who wanted something different, just like him. But obviously Obama's change isn't the change that this bigot wanted. Barack was voted for because they wanted to be fair to his race? Are you fucking kidding me? No. Barack won because he was the better candidate, not because of racial guilt.

The liberal media has been far from supportive of all the Bush policies he was complaining about as well. Hell, look at any Olbermann or Jon Stewart clip. I think only Fox News could be accused of "waving pom-pom's", and even THEY had criticisms about the Bush administration.

So to me, it appears like this guy is pissed at the right wing media and leadership for losing their path. And rightfully so... just look at guys like Ron Paul, to see the kinds of crowds he is drawing. People are pissed off at the Republicans for losing their way. In that case, since America has a two-tier system, what other solution is there BESIDES voting for a Democrat? Especially one who claims to want to challenge the exact mistakes that this guy is so mad about. But no, he's just a liberal. You can't vote for that... unless you feel sorry for him being black

This is why two tiered systems SUCK. If the party you like has become corrupt, you have no other options to vote for, besides your biggest enemy. There are many people who will continue voting for a corrupt party, because it's still better than the "other" option in their eyes. If there were more options, you would be able to tell your parties what you do and don't want BY VOTING. You have lots of choices in car brands... people vote with their dollars, and the good brands will succeed. But now you have a two party monopoly on politics, and the only inevitable outcome of it is a corrupt system.

Canada appears to be going that way soon as well. Now that the Conservatives have formed a single party, it's only a matter of time until the Liberals do too. Hell, they are already starting the motions to put a coalition in place to put the conservatives out of power. Then we'll get to have a two-tier (plus Quebec) system, just like you. Can't wait.

[fuzzysnuggleduck]

What Tom just said is pretty much exactly what I was thinking but didn't feel like posting because my word weren't as eloquent.

[Francious70]

I agree with Mr. Iacocca. Where HAVE all the leaders gone? I'll tell you where, anywhere BUT the government. Smart people know to stay the hell away from it because it will do nothing but RUIN you.

Not one politician is worthy of respect or honor. Not one.

[stipud]

Man... I wish you could vote for ANYONE. Not just political parties.

I think I would vote for Noam Chomsky.

This interview with him seems quite relevant to this thread:

[Francious70]

You CAN vote for anyone. It's called a write in candidate. There's just 0 chance of them getting elected.

[fuzzysnuggleduck]

You CAN vote for anyone. It's called a write in candidate. There's just 0 chance of them getting elected.

Yep, my wife being a dual citizen voted for friends and random famous people for certain offices during the US elections where she felt the candidates in her little voting package book were all useless douche bags. It means nothing and has zero effect on the results, but it can be done.

[stipud]

Some of my favorite recent Chomsky interviews...