“a small group of speculators endangering Chrysler’s future”
BS. These are bondholders. They loaned money to Chrysler. If we start calling bondholders speculators, there are going to be no more folks lending money to corporate America. If we are going to treat them like dogs and take away their rights, without due process of law, they aren’t going to lend their money anymore.
People used to use phrases like "My word is my bond" to indicate that they were trustworthy individuals. People used to treat debts like sacred obligations which is why bankruptcy was so shameful. People saw it as tantamount to theft. But that was then and this is now.