Quote:
Originally Posted by Berean
You're creating a straw man by saying unless the people appointed by the Obama Administration actually came from a government agency, then the government can't possibly be controlling the company.
Why you're making that silly argument, I have no idea.
That's like saying when Obama appoints the Secretary of Defense, unless he came from the military, he doesn't really control the military.
Complete nonsense.
The bottom line is Obama, through the Treasury Dept., appointed people who agree with his policies and will carry out his vision of what GM should be. If you don't think so, you're either kidding yourself or being willfully ignorant.
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Obama controls the US military because he is the Commander in Chief, not because of his selection for Sec Def. There is a chain of command, and he is at the top. Obama's involvement with the selection of the board of directors is based on the fact that the US government is the majority stakeholder of General Motors Company. If you were the majority owner, I'm pretty you could do the same thing. Additionally, so many were replaced in a short period the board of directors for General Motors Corporation were at the helm when it went bankrupt. Replacing them seems to be a reasonable decision.
Now, back to the whole 'control' issue. As I look at the situation, I see a group of people from outside the government at the helm of GM. All of them seem to be capable and competent individuals from their respective ares. None of them have to answer to the personal whims of the people in government. They have a reponsibility to their shareholders (which include 3 governments), but essentially all that means is they have to try and make GM a good investment for the shareholders. It doesn't mean they have to listen to their recommendations.
I mean, doesn't it seem odd to any of you that claim the government is controlling GM that Obama didn't appoint a single person from his administration to the board of directors? Thats what I'd do if I were trying to run them. Heck, I'd probably give myself a seat if I could. On the other hand, if I were the POTUS and had no interest in controlling the GM I'd just select a group that I think could handle the job. Afterall, it would have to be run successfully in order to pay back the loans given to them, as well have a successful IPO, and I don't trust any of my own people to run a business ... they're government bureaucrats!