Great Article About America

Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes is now 82 years old and has new book. Here are some excerpts:

"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, can't even clean up after a hurricane, can'tbuild a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'"Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'"The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press waves 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions.

"Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down."On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time. We needed a steady handto guide us out of the ashes. Here we stand: immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. Were running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.

Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves.

The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators?

Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? "Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?

We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened."Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies?

"Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem.
But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry."I have news for the gang in Congress.

We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name?

Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

"If I've learned one thing since 911, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play.

That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had enough.'"Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks; and it's our future. Our future is at stake!