Adapt or die...PLEASE!

I wouldn't consider myself Darwinian, but the environment, world, economy, culture - everything has changed. Yet, some institutions and the individuals that run them refuse to adapt and expect entities around them to help them survive.

Case in point: General Motors

They built cars that weren't selling well for years; maintained multiple brands and products that were only slightly differentiated (things like "the bumpers on the Plymouth slope more than the Chevrolet!) and now they want MORE MONEY to stave off bankruptcy.

Here's an alternative:

Use additional bail-out money to provide pensions and healthcare to the thousands of retirees GM let hang in the wind this fall and force GM into bankruptcy.

Sorry, the arguments we're hearing from GM now are just slightly different from their arguments in the mid-70s to 80s when the "Japanese invaded" the car industry. Increased global competition, rising costs, line workers cost too much and shareholder value is gone -- same tune from clueless professional executives, not management interested in guiding a company through a storm.

It's easy to pick on the auto industry and the fall out to the many companies dependant on the auto "jugger-nut" through contract, supply chain, etc. is going to be hard but consider this.

The auto industry did everything possible to own all aspects of its business WITHOUT really taking the risk. For example, tool and die shops build key components but don't own the tools the auto company contracting owns the tools - that way, they can slow payments, cripple the T&D operation, then pulled their tools because "the shop is financially unstable" WHAT?

That is really taking "work for hire" to an extraordinary level.

Control requires shared risk. $1 salaries are nice gestures, but they should receive no compensation if the company is not profitable -- just like the millions of entrepeneurs in millions of companies all over the world. This challenge requires new thinking - ADAPT. Adaptation may require a new skin, new home, new - uncomfortable - approach, but it can save a dying breed - like GM.

Play ball boys, you may just hit a homerun or have to find another job, like the thousands of workers already on the streets. Hell, I'll even throw out the first pitch, really for free.