Brian, thank you for calling out the "big three" here.  Apparently Vice President Elect Joe Biden is able to take an Amtrak train to Washington but a CEO needs to have a private jet?

Dear Brian,

I see that handsome sweetie, Richard Engel, is going to be on the broadcast tonight – hopefully from the safety of New York!  Tell him his unofficial fan club members say "hi."  

Since this is "Green Week" on all the channels of NBC Universal, I have a story suggestion for you.  Why don't you look into the environmental waste that goes on at Congressional hearings, and in "official" motorcades?  Every time someone is called to testify before a Congressional committee, water is provided as a refreshment.  Bottled water.  Deer Park, to be exact.  (I watch a lot of C-SPAN).  What happens to these plastic bottles after they have been used?  Are they thrown away, or recycled?  Why must bottled water be used to begin with?  What's the matter with providing reusable drinking glasses, and pitchers of (filtered) water, instead?  As for the motorcades of the President-Elect – or any other government bigwig – what kinds of SUVs are being used?  Are they gas guzzling V8s?  Are they hybrids?  Are they vehicles that have been converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG)?  CNG is good enough for the Metrobuses that "real Americans" use to get to and fro in D.C.  As a taxpayer, I want to know.  I am tired of all this hypocrisy.  If the people who serve in our government are going to talk the talk, then they need to walk the walk.  

I heard this morning that New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina has decided to retire, just shy of 300 career wins.  He is turning 40, and wants to spend more time with his family, and it would probably take another two seasons to make 300, if he stayed healthy.  As you know, Moose began his career with the Orioles.  He was the ace of their staff, and all of our hopes as fans were pinned on our belief in his abilities.  (We came close in '96 and '97).  I stood in line for three hours at a fan event, just to get his signature.  He was very gracious, and not at all egotistical.  I felt betrayed when he left Baltimore to go to New York – not because he was leaving the Orioles, but because he was leaving to play for their biggest rival.  All hard feelings aside, I must admit I felt pretty wistful, when I learned of his plans.  At the end of the day, he is a talent, a fine role model for the game, and a decent guy.  I wish him well, old #35.  

To Claudia:  WELCOME BACK!!!  Of course we missed you!  We always included you in our "hellos" and Xs and Os.  I was very surprised that New Mexico came through for Obama, as it was touted as one of the battleground states.  I do agree that a lot of the success had to do with the ground campaign, and so I would guess that you feel very gratified for all the work that you put in.  I thought of you on election night.

To Celine:  No, I never finished the book.  I stopped at the part I mentioned in this blog, and I have not gone back to it since.  It sits on my dining room table, where I put my purse and car keys beside it each night.  Maybe when I take my month-long vacation in December/January I will get back to reading.  

Good night all, and lots of love to the regular posters:  Lisa, Jackie (Will you be in Texas for Vice President Cheney’s arraignment?  Or has that already happened?  Ha, ha.), Stephanie, Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  XOXO

I think the true and prime motivation of the Republicans who oppose the loan for the Big 3 is union busting.  I believe the big corporations who support the Republicans in Congress want all unions to be degraded and they are dancing around any admittance of this in their statements.  

Many companies like Wal-Mart want unions to stay away from them and not to have the strength or prestige to continue their organization efforts.  If the Republicans can tarnish all unions by their talking points against the auto worker's union, then the perception that the unions (and not the auto executives or the economy) are at fault will help to tarnish the public perception of unions in general.  The half million Wal-Mart employees could start to develop a negative opinion of unions in this subtle way and that is what’s at work here.  Of course Wal-Mart is just one well known example but there are a multitude of other corporations actively engaged in keeping the unions at arms length and rooting for their demise.

When Republicans state that bankruptcy is the only answer for the Big 3 they are really just thinking about union busting and that is exactly what they are being "paid" to do by their big business supporters.  Certainly there is plenty of blame to go around and the unions will accept their share for past and current excesses, but when you hear "Chapter 11" being promoted by the Republicans, they really have just this one underlying, deliberate and orchestrated but secret motivation.  I have not yet heard a Republican expressing concern for the multitude of companies and employees in 46 states that make parts for the Big 3 or the independent car dealers in all of our towns who would not be paid for their outstanding bills in the case of a Chapter 11 filing.

Let’s not forget that GM is a part of our war machine too.  And remember what they did for our country when we needed war production for WWll.  This is an industry that we may need to have for future national security.

I don't know yet if the federal loans are the right course of action.  I fear that they are the only course and regardless of the risk.   But the decision and public opinion should not be steered by this Chapter 11 strategy of the union fearing corporations and their lobbyists who have the Republicans in their pockets.

Wow, what a slap in the face for all of the employees of the Big Three that are tonight going home uncertain of their job security.  Just another example of the leaders of the Big Three not doing what is necessary to save their industry.  As a fourth generation GM worker it pains me to say it but I say let them fail.  The U.S. has survived the loss of the Railroads, Steel and Textiles; we will survive the restructuring of the auto industry.

Why is Honda and Toyota doing so well?  They seem to find Americans to work in their plants at their pay and benefits.  Shouldn't we be bailing them out too even though they don,t need bailing out, fair is fair now isn't it.  I'm going to buy an american car built right here in Ohio, a Honda.  I know the Honda will be around after 100,000 miles unlike the Vega.

Arriving on private jets and citing lame reasons for doing so is just another example of how corporate America just doesn't get it.

They came asking for a bailout without a comprehensive plan on how they will use the money to fix the problems.  JUST GIVE US THE MONEY.  WE KNOW WHAT T DO WITH IT doesn't cut it anymore.  

The banks used the money to pay off top executives and not for the purposes it was intended.  That was the fault of the Treasury Dept.  Stuffing CEO pockets with taxpayer money without any guidelines is a sign of lack of forethought on the Bush administration and the Treasury.  Expecting the CEOs to do the right thing with the money is a sign of stupidity.  

Heads of corporations paying top executives billions in salary and perks instead of returning the profits back into the companies is what help precipitated the problems in the first place.  The auto industry will survive but in what form.  

We need manufacturing in this country.  Planes, tanks, trucks, Humvees, guns, ammo, clothing.  All this requires a manufacturing base and without it the military has to rely on countries who could be our future enemies to supply our forces.  THE PEOPLE SHOOTING AT THIS TANK BUILT THIS TANK.  THEY KNOW WHERE THE WEAK SPOTS ARE is a very good reason to rebuilt the manufacturing industry in this country.

tonites nightly news - washington correspondent mentioned that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is a Republican. She is a Democrat.  Your correspondent should be replaced for such a grade school error.

It seems that our memories are very short.  Where would we be without the arsenal of democracy?  In World War II is was the industrial strength of the midwest with GM, Ford and Chrysler supplying the materials for war.  What if the auto industry told FDR and the Congress, we need your plan to tell us how to produce the materials and how you will pay us for these materials.  If it meets our profit structure and production time tables we will let you know if we are interested.  I think it is time for a return of the favor.

I think the media should tell why the big three auto executives flew on private jets, not only for security, also they are "required" to do so, but because our CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION GIVES THE CORPS A TAX BREAK TO DO SO!!!!! I think the Americqn people are way underformed by the media, they should listen to the testimony given on C-Span.  Rick Wagoner explained it when he was finally allowed to speak!
  you are missing the point! Regardless what Congress and the Big 3 have done, do we really want to put 20 MILLION people in the midwest out of work?
  That is how many people would benefit, the ABC Reporter who showed the airplane arriving in D. C. yesterday FAILED TO MENTION THAT!!!!
  Mary Lynn Slmith, TX

Brian,
To me this whole flap about the Big Three arriving in Washington aboard their corporate jets is justified. The ridicule these guys have suffered is deserved. I can't fault them though for being the way they are. It is the mindset of corporate American CEO's that brought about this PR mess for them. Their arrogance and ignorance of the automobile industry should not be rewarded by loaning them billions of tax payer dollars. They should be forced into bankruptcy if  if their cash flow goes in reverse just like any other company or citizen in this country. I would guess the reason they don't want to go into bankruptcy is because they would be forced to restructure their businss. Instead, the want cash from us.
These CEO's and their predessors brought this situation on themselves. They saw it coming but did nothing about the types of cars they were building because that would cost money that would have lowered their bottom line. Well now, that bottom line is gone and they want us, the taxpayers of this country to say it's alright you were arrogant and stupid, so here's 25 billion bucks that we really don't need to fix our roads, fix our healthcare, fix our whole economy, fix our bridges, fix our sewers, fix our water systems, fix our streams, rivers and lakes, fix our National Parks, fix our coastlines, fix our airports and on and on and on..
Bottom line... Ford, GM and Chrysler board of directors, fire your CEO,s and not give them one dime to leave. Hire productive, inovative people who can turn these companies around, then fire yourselves for letting it happen in the first place.

Brian,

Would you please have one of your journalists do a story about whether "Piercing the Corporate Veil" would apply to these 3 CEOs?   Can they be held accountable for the demise of their companies?   Can they be forced to “contribute” their personal assets to replenish the balance sheets of their companies?

"Under Piercing the Corporate Veil, the corporate form is used to perpetuate a fraud, circumvent a statute, or accomplish some other wrongful or inequitable purpose, the courts may decide not observe the separation of the corporate entity from its stockholders, and it may deem the corporation’s acts to be those of the persons or organizations actually controlling the corporation."

These CEOs have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders not to blatantly mismanage their companies to the brink of bankruptcy while paying themselves despicable salaries.   They need to be held accountable for their malfeasance.

Personally, I don't care how the Big 3 got to Washington! I'm afraid everyone is going to get caught up in bashing on them about the way they got there, and end up losing sight of the fact, that thousands will lose their jobs and cause the economic crisis to grow even more, just so they can "teach them" a lesson! How many of these "supposedly" good members of our government travel on commercial airlines??

Good Evening Mr.Williams,YEAH!!! RICHARD WAS IN NEW YORK ON LEAVE!! AND IN THE STUDIO SAFE AND SOUND!! ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE HIM AND ESPECIALLY SAFE AND SOUND!! AND A HANDSOME SWEETIE! I just have to gush! Seeing his report from Korenegal Valley in Afghanistan with Viper Company was extremely intense and with all the shooting from the Taliban it was scary to see the brave troops battling them and Richard doing his report and beside the vehicle. I was so happy he made it out safe and sound. The troops just looked exhausted as Richard stated because enduring these fierce battles takes its toll on them. Richard speaking live and in the flesh in the studio was AWESOME!! Richard stating the troops are stretched thin and really need equipment,air support and just plain more help is heartbreaking to hear. The terrain is so mountainous there is no way to flood the area with troops and they have to be sprinkled all over the region. I really hope the sitaution gets much better for them. God Bless All Our Brave Soldiers! One Wonderful Thing to be Thankful for at this time. Richard is home on leave! Excellent Reporting Richard! I love seeing you in the studio!
On another note the news of the economy is getting worse and worse all the time. The report by Trish Regan stating the word "deflation" really sounds awful and the Dow plunging 445points to 7552.29 is simply depresssing. People are going to be really cautious about spending this holiday season because with job losses and other factors one cannot know for sure the future. So many businesses having trouble making profits and staying afloat. I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I hope it appears soon.
I am happy Ann Curry and her team decided to stop the climb to the top. Even though it would have been great to see them make the summit people were getting ill it was just too risky. People are priceless and it is not worth risking people's health. Wise decision to descend. She did a super job reporting from Mount Kilimajaro and showing how climate change has hurt the area and affected the people. They are all suffering in that region due to the climate change. I hope something can be done because time is of the essence.
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Great to see you Richard! WELCOME HOME! LOVE SEEING YOU! Peace to You and to All!
 
Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra Safe and Well Richard! I am happy you were in the studio!
XOXO

When the CEOs said they needed private flights for safety, I laughed out loud.  I wouldn't know one of them from any other high flier in first class.  With all the people in the world who could be accused of making our lives miserable, auto CEOs aren't the first faces that come to my mind.

My dad was a tried and true Ford Man.  I have no idea why, since his Fords were always in a state of disrepair and being on blocks.  The car I currently drive has the Geo logo on it, but the only reason I purchased it was because it is essentially a Toyota Corolla, and the Corolla was a couple thousand more.  I love my Geo, but I consider it my second Toyota.  I don't plan on buying another domestic-named car.  My other cars were Subarus and Toyotas.  If Detroit would build cars that last in the Northeast (my 12 year old car still has no rust - that's a big deal) then they might have a chance of survival.  

I will not be pleased if Mrs. Clinton is apart of the Obama team.  Can't we have a Bush & Clinton free administration for a couple years?  We the country need a breather from those two political families!  

Did anyone see Michael Kinsley's op-ed in the Washington Post about electing a possible smoker to the White House?  While I think it is a non-issue, I do find one point Kinsley makes to be intriguing.  Brian, do you know why the media hasn't been more questioning on Obama's tobacco use?  I can't imagine that this behavior has gone unnoticed by the journalist gaggle that follows him.  Has this been avoided on purpose?  Here's the link if you missed it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/19/AR2008111903531.html

I am all for being more environmentally friendly, but I find the timing of "Going Green" to be slightly cynical of NBC.  While its important, why do you only do this during prime rating sweeps?  

Did I hear Afghanistan mentioned on the broadcast tonight?  Maybe I've not paid as much attention, but even that country seems further away to me of late as we deal with more "serious" news issues domestically.  

Welcome back Claudia!  Glad to see you rejoin us.  Hello & shouts out to Celine, Matt, Lisa, Laurel, Jackie, Anna, and the other members of the unofficial RE fan club!  

Greed, greed, greed. Oh I'm sorry, I mean the BIG THREE!! I am so sick of hearing "bail out" from the corporate world, and how we Americans will have to pay for all of it. Times are tough enough without the thought of having to help the corporate world get back on their feet. How about helping the working class people get back on their feet? Give us the billions and billions of dollars, we'll spend it. We will get caught up on our mortgage payments so we do not lose our homes. We will put it back into our retirement accounts, so maybe we can retire someday. We will save it for our childrens college education. We will go shopping to help save jobs, create more jobs for Americans and help the econmy grow again.(yea maybe just maybe we would even buy a car made in America) We could stop worring about,do we put gas in our cars or food on the table. Let the corporate world sweat it out until we get the, I hate to say it, "bail out". Now, does this sound like a better plan to get the corporate world back on their feet? Anyway, keep your chins up America, we will get through this together!! Merry Christmas-And hopefully a better New Year!!!

While I agree the big three should be responsible for the mess created. Their mess has a tickle down effect, not only employees of those companies will be affected but suppliers, service industries that surround the areas where the big three are located, and finally engineering programs at local universities who get additionally funding from these companies. I have already seen the affects of these uncertainty because I was laid off not from one of the automotive makers but instead a supplier. In a time like this I myself could not afford to lose my position but now I'm struggling to pick up the pieces and find another job not automotive. I don't believe people are taking into consideration the aftermath of even just one of the automakers going under.

Hi guys Laurel I will not go to Texas to see Dick's arraignment. But I will go to the Federal trial, yes I have friends who work in the DOJ. Now Dick made one little mistake on his taxes that caused him to be charged. As for Gonzo he's hosed.

I really feel bad for the people of Michigan who work for the Auto Companies. Plus this will effect State as car dealers don't have business. Hank Paulson sees no problem in giving AIG 150 billion and even Goldman Sachs and other friends billions but the Auto Industry nothing. I guess Mitt Romney's campaign speech to Michigan saying he would help then his resent article saying let them fall it says alot about honesty in a policitian.  I'm thinking of the people and families that will lose their jobs.

I already contacted Rahm Emanuel with my suggestions. Once Obama said he would listen to what anyone had to say he didn't have to tell me twice. It is strange as the last time I wrote and got an answer was from President Clinton. People should take speak up and contact Obama/Biden Administration.

I read about the celebration given to Ted Stevens and how he was honored. I guess some things never change as we hail those who represent GREED IS GOOD from our Law Makers. I remines me of Nixon and how much love and honor was given as he resign knowing he would be impeached for his crimes.  Many from the Nixon years went to jail but are considered heros for their treason to the USA. Ollie North comes to mine. Fox news hires convicted felons from the RNC and looks like Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham and Scooter Libby have a place to work.  Everyday I wake up to some new mess found out about the Bush Administration and their staff.

See you same place same time

I am torn about the big three bail out. We as tax payers have been suffering thru high gas, food, and durable good prices for the better part of a year. Is anybody going to bail us out. I am like millions of other americans in this country that pay taxes, feed their families, and a pay a mortgage. When I destroyed my credit I was expected to pay the consequences. No one said hey let me give this guy a second chance, eventhough it was all his fault for destroying his credit. Those rules of real life do not apply to the CEO's that have ran these companies into the ground based on greed and bad management, but we can bail them out when they screw up. I am not crying for a bailout for my poor credit. That was all my doing and I am man enought to take that. However, we should not give these companies a financial crutch without accountability. There should be a detailed plan given by each company about what they are going to do about fixing their problems and how are you spending hard earned taxpayer dollars. I agree with President Elect Obama we cannot write blank checks to the big three or anyone else. Mark my words give these comapnies these large sums of money and we will regret it. Look at AIG they burned thru 36 billion in a matter of months and recently came back for 85 more. Our government better wake up. As Brian Williams says in his segment this is the "Fleecing of America". I understand that all of these factors are interconnected such as jobs,interest rates,and energy costs. However, there has to be a better way to hold these finacial bandits accountable.

The fact that the three CEOs said that they needed to fly to Washington in private jets, epecially three seperate private jets (which I wasn't aware of until tonights broadcast), is just hilarious to me. Like many other viewers have said, do they really think that normal everyday people will recognize them and revolt?

I love reading your blogs, because it gets me thinking, and laughing. It's great to hear what's going on from your point view before the Nightly News is on.

Thank you for spending your time writing to your viewers and answering questions from the lucky ones, hopefully I'll think of a good question someday.

Looking forward to Friday night's broadcast.

I hope you have a great day tomorrow!
-Cary

Brian, I understand your confusion.  I still recall reading the proud "Assembled in Canada" label in my Ford F-250 pickup.  And the Toyota dash, engine, interior, and door locks on my "Ford" Escort Wagon.

What I don't understand about Congress, is allowing GM, Chrysler, and Ford to shut out the other major auto manufacturers in America - Toyota, Subaru, Honda, etc.

The Detroit Three make a lot of vehicles - outside US borders and Congressional jurisdiction.  EPA fleet mileage requirements for what, 20 years? 30 years? have been largely ignored or gamed - by making certain models with such large proportion of 'foreign made' parts or assembled outside the US, to allow them to hide their non-compliance.  

Honda, Toyota, and other "foreign" or "Import" brands that manufacture inside the US provide jobs, vehicles, and survive in the market place.

So why does Congress give the Detroit Three a free pass, and allow them to make their request together, but exclude other major auto makers in the US?  The Detroit Three are not the only major auto makers, nor are their products all "American Made".

Just think of the savings if the Detroit Three only introduced new year-models every three years.  Think of the reduction in tooling costs and product development costs, not to mention the yearly half-price sales for a chunk of their inventory as the new-year models roll out.

If the Detroit Three want to participate in the bailout plan so badly - great.  Make them sell 45% of their equity in the form of shares of preferred stock to the US Treasury, for the $25 billion.

Hi Brian; I enjoy your work and especially your sense of humor in your other appearances. I wanted to comment on tonight's newscast and the references to consumers snapping their wallets shut and going on a spending strike, as if the our (consumers') attitude toward spending is the problem. The reason consumers aren't spending is because we don't have any money, not because we're waiting for stuff to get cheaper! Everybody I know, including me, has an income that has been significantly affected by the recession. I wish you and Trish Regan would stop trying to make it sound like we're "on strike". We're hurting out here.
If you have to explore attitudes, explore our attitude toward the bailout and the enormous amounts of money which have been spent. Number one, there are no results to speak of, and number two, the money was not used to buy the toxic assets that are everyone's books, meaning we taxpayers have no hope of recovery of this enormous debt, and number three, it's becoming increasingly clear that the media and the politician are out of touch with the needs of main street on this issue. Okay, it happens, but at least get off the mental recession bit. Thanks for listening.

Great show Brian and some interesting comments for and against the Auto Industry. If Americans had spoke up 7 years ago as we watched the Bush Administration bring us to this point of a recession things might be different. Most tuned in to American Idol but paid no attention to how the White House was robbing the US Treasury. No Americans are demanding Obama/Biden fix it quick.

Glad to see Obama/Biden are picking the best qualified people for their appointees and not friends like Bush did. It's a great time for lawyers and Law students as the DOJ will have alot of cases to handle from the 7 year crime wave. What's strange is Hillary is qualified to be President, she got the history making 18 million votes, a second term Senator and over 40 years working for Americans, I read a commit that said she shouldn't be Secretary of State. Look at the preivious people who held that job and they didn't have what Hillary has. Even Connie Rice came with nothing but speaking Russian, playing the piano and being a friend of the Bush Family and the job was her's.

Good to see Richard home safe. Lisa is his biggest fan and I know she's happy.  I already know about Afganstan from the troops over there that I email to.  More troops aren't the answer it time to talk to the Taliban. Bush invited them to the US as his guest he should have used that to talk to them about Afghanstan.  It's also time Afganstan had a President for the people and not one picked by the Bush Administration.

The fake Al Qeada tape faded out as it was just to funny. That US Propaganda Dept. has to do much better next time to make anyone believe the lie. The report first said the second in command made a tape, then it turned out to be a tape with words that the US translated.

As far as the US Stock Market goes it will bounce back when the US has Leadership that the World can trust and someone who is honest. Makes since as no one would invest with crooks.

Best to my friends Lisa, Laurel, Stephanie, Claudia, Celine, Annna and Matt

Most definitely it was NOT the time for those CEOs to fly in private jets.....

.....NOR is it the time for Al Gore to be taking private jets while he's asking others to sacrifice for environmental reasons.

Seems as though there are too many people taking the "welfare" way out including corporate america...what happed to roll-up your sleeves, pull yourself up by your boot straps, responsibility and our work ethic?  The middle class is the only one getting that message.  The big three's plans should also include a repayment plan with interest but, of course, that would be passed along to the middle class as well...

As part of the conditions for any company seeking bailout funds, I believe that Congress should consider a compensation cap for all employees and board members of said company, including the combined value of any salaries, bonuses and stock options, for a period of five fiscal years from the date of the transfer of funds.  

That cap could be an arbitrary number (say $750,000, which would still seem astronomical to 99% of U.S. taxpayers and workers) or based on a real figure, such as a multiple of $169,300 or $191,300, which I believe are the respective current annual salaries of members of Congress and the President. (A multiple of 1 would be fine by me!)

This would not hurt the companies involved - it would actually save them money, adding to the value of the bailout - so they should not object on fiscal grounds.  They might claim that it would prevent them from attracting and retaining top-quality leadership. But it's not as if the salaries they pay now seem to achieve that for them, or else they wouldn't be in this mess.

It might actually help them attract and retain leaders who are focused more on the corporate success that personal gain. In that respect, it might also improve employee morale.

It would not really even hurt the executives, who should still have plenty of income from investments and other activities. Not to mention their savings, unless they've all gone upside down on their mortgages and car loans as well!

Will any of this actually affect the numbers involved in the bailout?  Not really. But it would make the concept of the bailout an easier pill for Congress and the American taxpayers to swallow, especially those of us who have paid our bills on time, been conservative in our purchases and run our small (or even large) businesses in a responsible fashion. We’ve played by the rules of common sense, only to see those who have not done so be perversely rewarded. It’s time for that to end.

Dear Brian:
When the Big 3 Automakers return to Washington, presumably with plan(s) in hand, wouldn't it be a fresh "Change" for them to come forth with a tally of their company carbon footprints- What they have been at at where they want to go. This would show their real concern for getting on board in the direction the country needs to go. This could become as commonplace as their nightly stock share price quoutes. "GM today had their stocks up 20 cents a share, while carbon footprint decreased 30,000Tons"
We have weathermen that report smog levels.  Why not raise conciousness on carbon footprint levels.

Signed Blake Thorson
average 8 ton/day carbon footprint citizen

Just a thought on the proposed auto industry bailout and perhaps it can/should be extrapolated to other industries as well:

As part of the conditions for any company seeking bailout funds, I believe that Congress should consider a compensation cap for all employees and board members of said company, including the combined value of any salaries, bonuses and stock options, for a period of five fiscal years from the date of the transfer of funds.  

That cap could be an arbitrary number (say $750,000, which would still seem astronomical to 99% of U.S. taxpayers and workers) or based on a real figure, such as a multiple of $169,300 or $191,300, which I believe are the respective current annual salaries of members of Congress and the President. (A multiple of 1 would be fine by me!)

This would not hurt the companies involved - it would actually save them money, adding to the value of the bailout - so they should not object on fiscal grounds.  They might claim that it would prevent them from attracting and retaining top-quality leadership. But it's not as if the salaries they pay now seem to achieve that for them, or else they wouldn't be in this mess.

It might actually help them attract and retain leaders who are focused more on the corporate success that personal gain. In that respect, it might also improve employee morale.

It would not really even hurt the executives, who should still have plenty of income from investments and other activities. Not to mention their savings, unless they've all gone upside down on their mortgages and car loans as well!

Will any of this actually affect the numbers involved in the bailout?  Not really. But it would make the concept of the bailout an easier pill for Congress and the American taxpayers to swallow, especially those of us who have paid our bills on time, been conservative in our purchases and run our small (or even large) businesses in a responsible fashion. We’ve played by the rules of common sense, only to see those who have not done so be perversely rewarded.  

I could give a rat's azz about flying in private jets. Have you ever tried to conduct business, even in First Class, on a commercial jet with all the riff-raff you're surrounded with ?

My concern is whether or not the Big 3 Execs have the guts to confront labor and tell them we want a 10% giveback from each worker or they're fired.  The airlines have done it; why can't they.  The unions right now have no power.

I consider the bail out to be a "White Collar Welfare System". I believe the welfare system we have now was well meaninged in the beginning when Hard Working Americans needed help, but if there's no deadlines arranged ahead of time to end the program in an appropriate time, it leaves the door wide open for abuse. I think the Big Three like anyone else who needs assistance should get it, but shouldn't there should be proof of positive growth to the people who are loaning out the money? They are asking us, the American taxpayer to help them out of a fix, right?  I am a taxpayer that doesn't have a union or benefits. I'm just the little guy who works for joe the plumber in florida, The Right To Work State. What will we the average taxpayer see in return for our investment? Lower priced hybrid cars? Will the Big Three be able to stand on their own or will they be standing there with their hands held out like our welfare recipients are today?
 

During the week of Nov. 16 you have run two stories about rising tuition and other expenses that are locking-out tens of thousands of students, yet not a word about the 7+% pay increases that are continuing on top of existing outrageous salaries for private and public college executives. Perhaps your research department should take a look at the study released last week by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

While your research department is up... perhaps they could dig up some stats to see how many of the mortgage defaulters are trying to stay afloat while tied to the 200 pound anvil of 18, 20 and now (latest from Citi) 29.9% credit card payments. Is usury no longer a viable term in our "new economy?"

It was noted that the CEO of Toyota rec'd a $1 million dollar salary and the company had a $5 billion profit whereas the CEOs of the automakers had between a $15 to $21 million salary and are losing between 7Billion to 15.9 billion dollars and of course asking Congress for an additional 25Billion on top of the other 25 Billion they are already received.  Now Citigroup is going under.  

How about NBC doing an investigative piece as to WHEN companies are going to link executive pay and compensation with profits? And once again, the taxpayer is left holding the bag?

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