Or, maybe not. The CEO of GM is resigning at the behest of the Obama Administration. Some elements of the Right already are working themselves into a frenzy over the communist takeover, although other elements are fairly subdued. I haven’t seen much commentary from anyone who actually understands anything, so I’m withholding judgment until I learn more.
Via Joan Walsh, there’s an article on the financial oligarchy at the Atlantic that I haven’t read yet, but it looks interesting.
Meanwhile, let’s see what the real communists are up to —
A cyber spy network based mainly in China hacked into classified documents from government and private organizations in 103 countries, including the computers of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles, Canadian researchers said Saturday.
Nasty stuff.
Maha, the Simon Johnson article at the Atlantic is an excellent account of the financial debacle and a must-read.
I’m glad you picked up on the Atlantic article, I thought about writing about it (I don’t have the time right now). In a nutshell, the former chief economist of the IMF – who wrote the article – sees what is happening in the US as being very similar to the many “bailouts” the IMF had to arrange for various countries around the world, in particular how business oligarchs become intertwined with government, taking on ever bigger risks to the point where both become insolvent. The IMF is the last chance resource to bail out these countries and force them into austerities. I second khuges1963 – it’s a must-read article.
moonbat,
Is it any wonder that that which we created, becomes that which we must follow… Oh, good God, not to destroy!
maha,
As we all know, the firing of the GM CEO, will be looked upon as the greatest evil of the New Century.
Sorry, kid’s, I’m going to say what I want to say:
This dimwit will be made to be Ford, FDR and GOD!
On one hand, considering what Wagoner has done with GM, he should have stepped down a long time ago. On the other, isn’t it slightly disturbing that the President of the USA is asking a private citizen of a private company to resign? Image if this was Bush. Y’all on the left would be castigating him.
On the flip side, Obama is asking a big shot with AIG to be part of his tax reform task force, after laying in to AIG several times. Is that a good thing?
Teach — In a perfect world, big corporations wouldn’t be bailed out by government, either. However, as I said, I’m reserving judgment for now until I learn more about this.
Image if this was Bush. Y’all on the left would be castigating him.
That would depend on why he was doing it.
On the flip side, Obama is asking a big shot with AIG to be part of his tax reform task force, after laying in to AIG several times. Is that a good thing?
No, I don’t think so. I’m not at all happy about this and many other things about the Obama financial team.
If Bush were still in charge, Wagoner wouldn’t have been asked to step down. GM would have gotten a bailout and Wagoner a Presidential Medal, like Tenant and the other failures.
It does seem a bit strange that the State would come to own the Means Of Production by virtue of a ‘going out of business’ sale. It’s been a while since I read my Marx, but I dont’ think that’s how he said it would happen.
Teach,
Two words: Valerie Plame.
That’s how Bushco dealt with its “problems.” How quickly you’ve forgotten!
As for this poor martyr, Wagoner (Rightie martyrs are incompetent CEOs! Wow!), everything I’ve heard indicates the decision to resign came as the result of negotiations, a word not in the Bushco dictionary. But it is in Webster’s, and you may look it up if you wish to correct your understanding.
I would bet that Wagoner left dragging behind him a pretty hefty parachute. Well, maybe not that hefty.. just a few measly million. After all, the bible says.. a working man is due his wages.
Rick Wagoner walks away with $20 mil, according to ABC News:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7208201&page=1
His family may have to tighten their belts, but I expect they’ll get by.
Ha, Wagoner is a piker..small potato. What kind of a CEO only gets 20 million in severance?.
No wonder Obama told him to pack it up. He couldn’t run with the big dogs to get over the 100 million mark… so he ends up with chump change. I guess the Wagoner’s better get used to eating Rice-a-Roni and hamburger helper from here on out.
Maha, and All,
Here is a link to the report originated by two scholars from Cambridge University on the cyberspying operation apparently being run by the Chinese government that is referenced at the end of this post.
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-746.pdf
Ominous stuff. What is it about Tibetan autonomy that so sticks in the craw of the Chinese government? Is it indicative of their belief that a new version of the Great Game, this time centering on access to energy and mineral resources, is in play, and that control of Tibet is vital to their perceived interests? Is it anger at those who would postulate an alternative worldview to that of dialectical materialism (or just materialism in general)?
JerseyJeffersonian, pick up a copy of “War At The Top Of The World” by Eric Margolis to find out about the “New Great Game” and the roll of the PRC and Tibet, India,Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, etc.
The game is on, also, Google “TAPI”.