The chief executives of the “Big Three” automakers have repeatedly abased themselves before Congress. They have carefully followed scripting provided for show trials. They never mentioned crushing constraints from unsustainable union contract benefits, or CAFÉ standards: none of which impact highly profitable overseas operations. In spite or because of their obsequiousness, the Washington patricians determined to dictate future operations for the car companies.
Such a course directly contradicts the innovative path chosen by Albert Speer to raise German armaments production over three fold from 1941 to July 1944, despite round the clock allied bombing. To quote from Inside the Third Reich, Speer said, “Aside from organizational innovations, things went so well because I applied the methods of democratic economic leadership. The democracies were on principle committed to placing trust in the responsible businessmen as long as that trust was justified. Thus they rewarded initiative, aroused an awareness of mission, and spurred decision-making. Among us, on the other hand, all such elements had long ago been buried. Pressure and coercion kept production going to be sure, but destroyed all spontaneity. I felt it necessary to issue a declaration to the effect that industry was not ‘knowingly lying to us, stealing from us, or otherwise trying to damage our war economy’”.
Now a new Reichstag, while allowing private ownership, will centralize control within federal bureaucracy, thereby stifling initiative and spontaneity.
Actually I think Pelosi Reid wanted them to look good and only beat on them when the polls continued against the bailout, threw them under the bus. I thought of the national socialism analogy too.
In my comment 10 here:
comment 10: "I wouldnt recommend this type of national Socialism"