"We the People" to "King of the World": "You're Fired!"

Friends,

Nothing like it has ever happened. The President of the United States, the elected representative of the people, has just told the head of General Motors -- a company that's spent more years at #1 on the Fortune 500 list than anyone else -- "You're fired!"

I simply can't believe it. This stunning, unprecedented action has left me speechless for the past two days. I keep saying, "Did Obama really fire the chairman of General Motors? The wealthiest and most powerful corporation of the 20th century? Can he do that? Really? Well, damn! What else can he do?!"

This bold move has sent the heads of corporate America spinning and spewing pea soup. Obama has issued this edict: The government of, by, and for the people is in charge here, not big business. John McCain got it. On the floor of the Senate he asked, "What does this signal send to other corporations and financial institutions about whether the federal government will fire them as well?" Senator Bob Corker said it "should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise." The stock market plunged as the masters of the universe asked themselves, "Am I next?" And they whispered to each other, "What are we going to do about this Obama?"

Not much, fellows. He has the massive will of the American people behind him -- and he has been granted permission by us to do what he sees fit. If you liked this week's all-net 3-pointer, stay tuned.

I write this letter to you in memory of the hundreds of thousands of workers over the past 25+ years who have been tossed into the trash heap by General Motors. Many saw their lives ruined for good. They turned to alcohol or drugs, their marriages fell apart, some took their own lives. Most moved on, moved out, moved over, moved away. They ended up working two jobs for half the pay they were getting at GM. And they cursed the CEO of GM for bringing ruin to their lives.

Not one of them ever thought that one day they would witness the CEO receive the same treatment. Of course Chairman Wagoner will not have to sign up for food stamps or be evicted from his home or tell his kids they'll be going to the community college, not the university. Instead, he will get a $23 million golden parachute. But the slip in his hands is still pink, just like the hundreds of thousands that others received -- except his was issued by us, via the Obama-man. Here's the door, buster. See ya. Don't wanna be ya.

I began my day today in Washington, D.C. I went to the U.S. Senate and got into their Finance Committee's hearing on the Wall Street bailout. The overseers wanted to know how the banks spent the money. And many of these banks won't tell them. They've taken trillions and nobody knows where the money went. It certainly didn't go to create jobs, relieve mortgage holders, or free up loans that people need. It was so shocking to listen to this, I had to leave before it was over. But it gave me an idea for the movie I was shooting.

Later, I stopped by the National Archives to stand in line to see the original copy of our Constitution. I thought about how twenty years ago this month I was just down the street finishing my first film, a personal plea to warn the nation about GM and the deadly economy it ruled. On that March day in 1989 I was broke, having collected the last of my unemployment checks, relying on help from my friends (Bob and Siri would take me out to dinner and always pick up the check, the assistant manager at the movie theater would sneak me in so I could watch an occasional movie, Laurie and Jack bought an old Steenbeck (editing) machine for me, John Richard would slip me an unused plane ticket so I could go home for Christmas, Rod would do anything for me and drive to Flint whenever I needed something for the film). My late mother (she would've turned 88 tomorrow if she were still with us) and my GM autoworker dad told me in the kitchen they wanted to help and handed me a check for an astounding thousand dollars. I didn't know they even had a thousand dollars. I refused it, they insisted I take it -- "No!" -- and then, in that parental voice, told me I was to cash it so I could finish my movie. I did. And I did.

So on that March day in 1989, as I was driving down Pennsylvania Avenue, my 9-year-old car just died. I coasted over to the curb, put my head down on the steering wheel and started to cry. I had no money to take it in to be repaired, and I certainly had nothing to pay the tow truck driver. So I got out, screwed the license plates off so I wouldn't be fined, turned my back and just left it there for good. I looked over at the building next to me. It said "National Archives." What better place to donate my dead car, I thought, as I walked the rest of the way home.

Though it wasn't easy for me, I still never had to suffer what so many of my friends and neighbors went through, thanks to General Motors and an economic system rigged against them. I wonder what they must have all thought when they woke up this Monday morning to read in the Detroit News or the Detroit Free Press the headlines that Obama had fired the CEO of GM. Oh -- wait a minute. They couldn't read that. There was no Free Press or News. Monday was the day that both papers ended home delivery. It was canceled (as it will be for four days every week) because the daily newspapers, like General Motors, like Detroit, are broke.

I await the President's next superhero move.

Yours,
Michael Moore
[e-mail]
MichaelMoore.com
(Go State!)

P.S. Please know that it has not been lost on any of us from the Rust Belt how our corporate bigwigs were treated (remember, the auto companies wanted a loan, not a handout) compared to how the titans of Wall Street got trillions of free cash, lunch at the White House and a photo op with the Prez. Trust me, we get it. And, if there is a God in heaven, the thieves of Wall Street will soon pay. Also... the sight of our president having to promise that he would back every GM warranty and give consumers a bonus if they trade in their old Grand Am for a hybrid, was alternately sad, hilarious, and just plain weird. This is what it's come to: the Commander in Chief of the Free World is now Mr. Goodwrench. Jeesh.

Comments

[Jamie Traina]

Let's see.....In paragraph 5, Mr. Moore tells about the former employees of GM who have now taken jobs consisting of twice the work for half the pay. By my calculations, GM was paying twice the money for half the work...and GM is the bad guy in this scenario? Huh?

[Dailykook]

The most divisive man in America actually has something positive to say. Go Michael Obama needs your support.

[ddDinah]

There ya go again Michael telling it like it is, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

[theophagousmonkey]

Theo says, Hummer. That's about all one need know about Wagoner's leadership value.
A note, though, to earlier posters worried that Obama is neglecting the mater of workers' pensions in considering bankruptcy. Not really true. Those pensions are insured by the federal government. This is why in the Bushed years there was so much bankruptcy wheeling and dealing in the auto and other of our remaining manufacturing industries. Bush's buddies would take a company over and then run it into the ground, bankrupting it, skimming the money, and then tossing the pension obligations at the taxpayer to fund. Unfortunately, the agency that insures those pensions is now at risk because the Bushie in charge chucked all the money into...wait for it...stocks and real estate at the peak of the market. Theo says, Heckuva job!

[InYourFaceRadio]

Speaking of documentaries. One of our listeners sent us a press release that Bridgestone Media is releasing their film "Life On the Edge of A Bubble" on April 15th about our econ history of exactly what we're experiencing now (bubble burst - bubble burst) and how to stop the cycle.
I just watched the trailer http://lifeontheedgeofabubble.com. Know we love ya Mike - but this "Bubble" flic looks awesome.

[InYourFaceRadio]

We get the hypocrisy of the ez road for banks (Wall street) and the heavy hammer for corps by Obama, Mike - but you gotta start somewhere. The only difference between Enron and GM is it's employees tenure - the methodology for running the company is the same. It stinks. We love ya till we don't. We'll take care of you till we won't. Sadly, employees of GM (and others) are finding out too late just how scurrilous these big company providers are. (Roger & Me). While the bottom line is always a profit, they could care less on how they make it. Even if it means being 3rd rate while pretending to be high class. Let's expose all the cockroaches that rape their workers, make billions, misappropriate the money, then cry the blues to the government. You're right Mike - stay tuned - this is just the tip of the iceberg.

[schicklett3]

I love you Michael.....you're awesome. BUT, the head of GM needed to go and go now.
Look what he did to GM and to the thousands of people that worked for the company - then to go before Congress to beg for more money knowing good and well "his plan" wouldn't hold muster was the last straw.
It's pretty simple - if you want billions of dollars then you need a CEO that knows what he's doing...
Anyway, if this man was forced out then thats okay by me....he was worthless and not worth investing in.
Now maybe GM will restructure and be viable once more.
Once again - I love you Michael Moore...you're the man....but please give our president time to get our house in order. Please.

[AZdesertdog]

Michael,

as one of your very loyal troops, I must say that for the first time, I couldn't disagree with you more.

here is a guy (Wagoner) who has been at the GM helm since Roger Smith was removed. I think you remember him. GM has lost over $80 billion under Wagoner's watch.

I was a Dodge dealer for ten years, and was around back in the early 80's with the Chrysler loan guarantees. this was a much different situation compared to now, as the goverment essentially co-signed with Chrysler for loans that banks provided; not a dime from the government.

this, however, did not stop the government from sticking their nose into Chrysler's business. they forced Chrysler to destroy the molds for the 426 and 440 engines, and Chrysler even had to go to the government about each new model they wanted to introduce, including the 1982 LeBaron convertible, and the first minivan in 1984.

when the government is giving you money, you need to dance to their tune. if you don't, like it, pay it back seven years early like Lee Iacocca did. our President has no desire to get into the car business, but if the executives can't follow directives, they need to go.

[raffa657]

Amen Mr. Moore! Of course I'm probably biased. (I am from Michigan) But anyone with a sense of fairness would have to agree.

[ohmetoo]

Michael as always thank you so much.

My take on;
"This is what it's come to: the Commander in Chief of the Free World is now Mr. Goodwrench. Jeesh.", was similar,

Cal Worthington, used car sales man who used circus animals in his ads.

[LHoney]

Michael - Always love your movies, although I think this one will be even tougher to watch than usual. Here's a young lady you really should speak to - Her name is Iris Mack. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/iris-mack-harvard-derivat_n_182037.html?show_comment_id=22607017#comment_22607017

[vanmungo]

I pass along the following comments from Howie Hawkins, the 2006 Green Party candidate for Senate from New York State:

When I read this letter from Moore, I had a similar [unfavorable] reaction. It's more about
Moore than GM or the economy. Not a word about how the workers are screwed by
Obama's plan - sending the automakers to bankruptcy means taking back
autoworkers' and retirees' health and pension benefits.

Obama's silence as Dem Senators abandon card check cries out to tell us which
side he is really on. As Obama told a meeting of the New Democrat Coalition,
the caucus of Dems affiliated with the pro-corporate Democratic Leadership
Council, a couple of weeks ago, he is one of them.

Moore gives away his own isolation from the workers' movement when at the end
where he speaks of workers waking up to read about Wagoner's firing in the
Detroit News or the Detroit Free Press. While he knows those papers stopped
home delivery on Monday, he is seemingly oblivious that the labor movement in
Detroit boycotts those two union-busting rags.

-- Howie Hawkins

I would add the following: Moore has kept a curious silence in the face of the Obama/Geithner multi-tril­lion-dolla­r heist of the taxpayers to line the pockets of Wall Street investors. Moore also kept his counsel when Obama pushed aside single-payer health care as an option--the single-payer care that was the centerpiece of Moore's film "Sicko."

[Rule Of Law]

Michael, a lot of folks here suggest your next movie might be about wall street. If it is be sure to include the revolving door between it and the FED. There might even be room to discuss JFK's printing of silver certificates. But watch your back, buddy!

[mofmars333]

Yes, Michael, watch your back. You're a great Amercan Patriot & some bad elements are very angry at you for exposing truth. Be safe & keep up the great work.

Thank you so much for your selfless acts for humanity.

[rabiddog6708]

I hope things change, Michael, and, as always, I look forward to your next movie. But I can't bring myself to believe that anything will really change....money talks and lots of money talks loud enough to dorwn out the voices of the common man. As long as our elected leaders are allowed to receive campaign contributions from corporations, the will of the ordinary American will come in a distant second to the money men.

[Hawaii5-0]

Hey Michael,

One of my friends who has studied the Constitution and is knowledgeable about that Framers of the Constitution made an important point to me that has been lost on most of the American public. After the Revolutionary War, The King of England signed a treaty with the US in Paris in 1783(?). The significance of this treaty was that the King of England, granted ownership of the 13 Colonies to the citizens of the USA. In effect, it is the citizens of the USA who own everything here in the USA, not the corporations. We own the govt, not the other way around. We should be able to hire and fire anyone in the govt if the Will of the People is followed.

Even tho your next film is about the stock market meltdown and who is behind it, you have the best forum for reminding the people of our country that We the People own everything here including the govt. The people in American are afraid of the govt and it' the opposite in Europe. I would imagine this is the most important message that you could get across to the public. We should dictate to the govt what we want done, not the other way around. And currently, our electoral system has been hijacked by special interests and our representative no longer represent the people. We have the power to change that too, if the people demand it.