General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) just doesn't get it. After flying in a corporate jet to Washington last week with tin cup in hand, its executives have not wised up. Rather than flying on public airlines like the rest of us do, they want to keep flying those corporate jets. But they want to make sure nobody in the public can track their flights.
If this is not the height of arrogance I don't know what is. Bloomberg News interviewed a GM spokesman who said, "We availed ourselves of the option as others do to have the aircraft removed" from a Federal Aviation Administration tracking service. But he declined to discuss why GM made the request.
GM doesn't need to explain why it made the request. I already know -- it wants its executives to be able to keep flying on corporate jets and it doesn't want Congress or the public to know about it. I think GM executives should consider three options: flying coach, getting the boot from the executive suite, or continuing to fly in their corporate jets until they run out of money.
If they pick the third option, they should not get a penny's worth of taxpayer money.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in GM securities.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 17)
11-27-2008 @ 3:37PM
Bone said...
I say, Let them sink ! These arrogant SOB's think that the hardworking taxpayer are going to bail them out. Kind of sad seeing the three amigo's begging for money while all came on corporate jets. God forbid any of these goof balls stepped foot on a domestic airline.
11-27-2008 @ 4:53PM
maryann said...
I believe that if the GM car CEO's wish to keep their Jet uasge private... then dont use Government money to stay afloat... once my tax dollars go to help them... then all is public.... not sure why they really need bail out... except poor management on their parts.... but half the country business runs on something directly tied to the car industry.... so we need jobs... they need help... but also controls
11-27-2008 @ 7:04PM
shelley said...
Our government needs to fully investigate GM, Ford & Chrysler's finances. I mean FULLY investigate. P & L, Corporate books, CEO's etc. These 3 are looking for a free tax payer handout. Especially GM.
11-27-2008 @ 7:33PM
Mike said...
AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!!
11-27-2008 @ 9:10PM
Geary said...
SteveR -
Might have something to do with fact other manufacturers you mention are not panhandling to support their habit ...
11-27-2008 @ 9:14PM
brad said...
I have always purchased GM vehichles. But that stops here, now, today. I cant believe the arrogance I have seen in corporate America today, not just in the auto industry, but throughout. I now say no to Detroit. I will from here on, purchase from the most innovative, and green companies on the planet, in all cases. Let gm, and ford fall.
11-27-2008 @ 9:24PM
anthonyrh said...
WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE WHO SPENDS 60000 a day to fly the senators and governors who fly on private jets to d.c.
comeon people see the real world!!! hello??
11-27-2008 @ 9:50PM
a said...
welcome to the gm bailout
WORKING GROUP ON FINANCIAL MARKETS EXECUTIVE ORDER # 12631 SIGNED AND SO ORDERED BY RONALD REGAN 1988).GIVING GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS FULL AUTHORITY TO REDISTRIBUTE THE PUBLIC MONEY HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT (SPREADING THE PEOPLES WEALTH) TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF INVESTORS AND THE BIG CORPORATE WOLVES OF WALSTREET .NEW WORLD GERMAN IDEALISM AT WORK.
11-27-2008 @ 10:09PM
A said...
GM,FORD, AND DODGE SHOULD GO DOWN FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WARRANTIES AND CRAPPY SERVICE AND PRIVATE DEALERSHIPS.THEY SEEM TO HAVE FORGOT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STANDING BEHIND THE PRODUCT.
GM=Government Money
CHEVROLET=Cash in Hand from Every Venue of Revenue from the Ordinary Likes of Every Taxpayer.
DODGE=DROVE OUT THE DOLLARS NOW TIME TO GET EVERYONE ELSE'S
11-27-2008 @ 10:23PM
a said...
The auto companies have ample money they have been continent shifting and building plants overseas for many years.All they have to do to recover is to sell off or shut down some foreign operations and they will have money to burn.This is just an action to break the UAW union Close up shop and move operations offshore and keep whats here in the USA at minimum low paid operations.
11-27-2008 @ 10:37PM
a said...
AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE HOODWINKING AMERICANTAXPAYERS.
RESTORE PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER 11110 , THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS A PRIVATE CORPORATION THAT LENDS MONEY TO THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.ITS TIME TO RETURN THE POWERS OF MONEY CREATION TO THE U.S TREASURY TO ITS ORIGINAL CONSTITUTIONAL STATE ::::::::::::::::::
U.S. Constitution - Article 1 Section 8 STATES ONE OF THE POWERS OF CONGRESS SHALL BE TO:
coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; GOVERNMENT RUN MEANS NO INTEREST DEBT THAT GROWS DAILY AGAINST THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
11-27-2008 @ 10:45PM
a said...
Why dont we just subsidize foreign auto companies as well,makes about as much sense and just as ineffective as the big 3 own or are partnered with foreign auto companies.we support and police the world now why not give it all away and put up the sold out sign on the shores of the USA.At this rate they will be burning the constitution raping the cities and soon the Police State will reign over America.
11-28-2008 @ 12:02AM
Rick said...
Keep the jets and no bailout money. What are they really doing with those Corporate Jets. Are they flying their mistresses around in them? Is it worth having the company and the hundreds of thousands of jobs go down? Are they trying to go to hell when they die? Is Greed not one of the seven deadly sins? What Jerks!!!
11-28-2008 @ 12:02AM
DLatta said...
Peter Cohan get a life! How do you think the executives of AIG and the big Bank executives got to Washington to get 100's of Billions. Then go party! The Media loves to create hype, and you fools buy it all! They love to call it a bail out, and tax payers footing the bill. Any of you out there have any idea how many Billions of tax dollars these companies and the employes pay into the U S economy each year! Then add in the thousands of parts suppliers! It's many times more than the 12 Billion bridge loan GM wants. And this is every year! Wake Up People!
11-28-2008 @ 12:09AM
Mary said...
What is happening on those Corporate Jets? Is the mile high club on the jets?
11-28-2008 @ 6:16AM
Mike Sanders said...
If anyone, has reason for having a grudge against GM (I was fired from GM/EDS), it is I. That said, I side with GM on this particular issue. Private jets afford security to people, who would otherwise be mobbed and cause disruption, at airports. Let's be reasonable!
11-28-2008 @ 8:10AM
howard said...
you guys have to agree that GM is made of of good and bad people just like any other large firm. the bad ones seem to be the management and decision makers. (i think they left a few good ones in the Corvette Division to come up with the superb ZR1 car design...)
i have seen this exact scenario (mis management by bad people) play out in many other situations and i can recognize why it happens.
how about forcing the GM brass 'drive' to Washington in the future? ...can't they find a Suburban or two...?
do you really think that a bankrupcy at GM will change the TYPE of people making the ongoing day to day decisions?
what i might suggest is to hire ex Nissan/Honda/Toyota managers and fill the top spots in GM with people who seem to be able to fit vehicle design and production more closely with real market buyer needs.
the auto industry is a great American institution which isn't aligned with what America wants now.
11-28-2008 @ 8:16AM
duff said...
The problem with the auto makers is that they have ingnored what the consumer wants, a fuel effiecient vehicle. Instead of figuring out a way to do this, they just keep making the same fuel hogs. I firmly believe that they have technology to change the way they do things, but will be too expensive to bring to market. Not to mention, they are in bed with the oil producers, who want to sell more oil, and they know the government will not let them fail. We have been down this road before with Chrysler, the government didn't want less than three competing companies, so they bail them out.
Also, all these "bailouts" are still repayable, with interest.
The thing is, GM should be in bankruptcy, then they will have to figure out a way to bring the company back to profitability, with oversight, this is how the capital system works, let the market take care of them. When the emerge from the bankruptcy, they will be a better company for it.
11-28-2008 @ 8:59AM
joe said...
F---K AND FEED THEM BEANS, GREED BALLS DON"T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THEY REALLY LOOK LIKE
11-28-2008 @ 9:14AM
sgentilejr said...
GM, Ford and Chrysler are not asking for a Bailout...They are asking for loans or loan guarantees. When you go to a bank and ask for a loan...do they tell you to give up your cell phone and cable TV and we will give you a loan????
Beside that YOU are the reason they are in trouble, because more than 10% of you are not making your auto payments. They had to reposess more than 10% of the autos and trucks they sold in 2007 and 2008 because YOU did not pay them for THEIR vehicle that you bought or leased.