GM CEO Resignation vs. AIG Corporate Bonuses?
Monday, March 30, 2009
I have a question for the wise sages of ATK…
President Barack Obama released a statement today about GM. In it, he said that Rick Wagoner, CEO of GM, would be resigning so that GM could be taken in a new direction. Specifically, he said, “This is not meant as a condemnation of Mr. Wagoner, who has devoted his life to this company; rather, it’s a recognition that it will take a new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future.”
Now, I am not as big of a supporter as others in Michigan and on this blog of the Big Three. I believe that they have dug their own grave a bit here, and that they are asking for taxpayer dollars to create new competition after they have misjudged automobile purchasers. That being said, though, I don’t think they are any worse than AIG and others who also severely misjudged their actions yet are being given a clean slate by the American taxpayers.
So, my question is this…
Why should CEO Wagoner be forced out of GM in order for them to get federal aid, while this was not true at all of the corporate executives at AIG (who, instead, received bonuses from the taxpayer bailout dollars)?
I look forward to your reasoned input on this…