Barbzzz

This "Barb" is at Bill Ford and those around him that appear to be completely overwhelmed in their responsibilities to shareholders, customers and yes, employees. Way Forward is in reality the 3rd installment of Ford's restructuring woes. How many times must you make the same mistake before realizing that perhaps we haven't adequately identified the problem?

First, the automobile industry, by nature, is cyclical. While riding several of the recent upturns, Ford chose to go on a spending spree buying such brand names as Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Aston Martin. Is the point becoming clear? At the very least, management has the responsibility to position the company for these cycles. That means to reserve resources during the good times in order soften the not so good times. This IS what management is supposed to do.

The REAL Way Forward can be found in "just in time manufacturing". Lower investment in inventory thru flexible production, materials procurement and payroll. Without addressing the real issues facing the Ford Motor Company, we should expect future installments to Bill Ford's continuing saga "Way Forward".

Labels: Floundering Ford

Coming soon to televisions everywhere. “Here’s to beer” is soon to be the beer industry’s new slogan in response to declining market share. This February, we consumers, are going to be enlightened as to the “social value” of beer. That’s right, the “social value” of beer. I just can’t wait to hear August Busch interrupt some sporting event to explain the many ways beer contributes to our well-being. It has been said that no one has ever gone wrong underestimating the intelligence of “John Q Public”. Anheuser-Busch is about to test this theory.

Labels: Anheuser-Busch

Our "barb" for the day has to go to Senator Trent Lott from Mississippi. He has always been an anomaly in my mind. Mississippi is arguably the poorest state in the Union and these people elect one on the wealthier people in the South. Does that make sense? How can he really represent his constituency? Now does the anomaly part come into focus? As well-off as Senator Lott is, he appears to be incensed by the proposed loss of charitable dining from no other than lobbyists! In his words as reported by CNN: "Some of it is outrageous," Lott said. "I mean, now we're going to say you can't have a meal for more than 20 bucks. Where you going to -- to McDonalds?" If these freebies are that important to Mr. Lott, perhaps he ought to panhandle street intersections with a sign reading "will legislate for food". Toss your own "barb" at www.barbzzz.blogspot.com.

Labels: Trent Lott

George W. Bush makes for an easy target as both Al Gore and Hillary Clinton demonstrate. While a tad harsh, they both voice opinions expressed more privately by many. Clearly he is responsible for the advise he receives. On this alone, he has done poorly enough that his disingenuousness borders dishonesty on more than one issue. The situation we currently face in Iraq has been known and debated since his father's administration. The Senior Bush's administration understood that Saddam Hussein, while a tyrant, held together an extremely fragmented and hostile country. There was little chance the United States, with Allies, could militarily improve Iraq's internal situation in the absence of a protracted involvement. Because Saddam Hussein threatened the Senior Bush, George W. Bush found sufficient reasoning to engage Iraq in military confrontation. The weapons of mass destruction argument was merely a red herring.

Labels: George W. Bush

Today's "Barb" is furnished by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California. To summarize his response to Jack Abramoff's current situation, kick-backs and other political paybacks are a big part of how we work. Finally the cat is out of the bag! A fat cat indeed! 535 fat cats to be exact. Over the past dozen years, congressional salaries have been markedly increased in their self-proclaimed effort to "attract better candidates". Well now we have legislation on the auction block. To make matters worse, public servants and not the taxpayer are enriched through this enterprise. Better yet, lets place all legislation on eBay. At least then the public will receive its financial due and we know the market value of any specific piece of legislation.

Labels: Dana Rohrabacher

An open letter to Myles Brand, president of the NCAA. Teams, coaches and fans all fret over the increasing rate at which student athletes are leaving their schools early for the "next level". There is no perfect solution, but here's one that goes a very long way toward making amends. If a student athlete, on scholarship, wants to leave after his or her junior year, then they must fund 3 additional scholarships to that school. If that same athlete wants to leave after his or her sophomore year, then they must fund 6 scholarships and 9 scholarships for leaving after their freshman year. Because of the amounts involved at the "next level", this proposal will not change the athlete's decision, but merely reimburse the school for their investment in that athlete and help defray some future recruitment and development costs.

Labels: Myles Brand

New word for 2006, so we are told, is "truthiness". The perfect word for those choosing to skirt the facts. Our politicians will likely embrace this word like no other. We are told its meaning lies somewhere between fact and fiction, hence the perfect ally of politicians. I guess this means it is ok to tell what was formerly referred to as "white lies". This is absolute nonsense! Anything less than the whole truth, i.e. truthiness, is akin to nothing at all. If we are going to communicate stories, then let it be told exactly that. Stories masquerading as fact is not communication.

Labels: Truthiness