A friend sent this to the NYT today:
To the Editor:
"G.M. has said that it desperately needs $4 billion to survive through the end of this month .... Chrysler has said that $4 billion would allow it to avoid bankruptcy and stay in business through the quarter."� NYTimes Dec 18.
I wish to update the US citizen on my request for $4 billion dollars to survive through the end of this month. I was deeply disappointed that the Congress did not even consider my request and look forward to discussing this with Secretary Paulson.
I too have been for years not selling cars. (In fact, for my entire adult life, I have not sold a car.)� In order for me to survive, $4 billion will be fine. I live austerely, so unlike GM, Chrysler or Ford, I am not pressing the US citizen to shell out dough by the end of the month (although a couple million will take care of Christmas gifts for my children, my ex-wives, several girlfriends and my dog, Sam, who must chew a leather shoe, as I have run out of money to buy a chewy-toy for him.� OK. A half million.)
I will soon be hiring a soon-to-be-unemployed GM� Spokesman who will attest that he still has faith in me as� CEO, as he did for the current CEO of GM.� Further, I promise the US taxpayer that, like Harley Davidson, I will never again ask for financial support from the US government after the first $ 4 billion. I also will not shelter my money in offshore accounts. As for my private jet, unlike GM, I have never owned one. I do own a Prius, which I am willing to drive to Washington, like the auto exec's did on their second beggary trip, to formally request these funds ... or just to collect the check.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak directly to the taxpayer, whom I believe will shell out� a few million for an honest fellow taxpayer who doesnt' sell cars.�
I also will not charge people for not flying in planes.
Respectfully,