I was reading an article about the CEOs of the car makers again–it was in defense of them taking their company planes to beg for money. The article mentioned that these guys need privacy to work deals while flying and have to be available for company business at any moment–as if every other CEO in the country–large or small–doesn’t work on regular planes every time they fly. I don’t know how much the “journalist” was paid to print that viewpoint, but it underlines part of the problem: arrogance and no real effort to distinguish between “want” and “need.” It’s highly convenient to spent 20k to fly privately, but it isn’t a necessity. Any CEO that doesn’t know the difference needs to go back to business school. Any CEO that has a company in dire straits sure as hell shouldn’t be wasting resources on such a convenience either. It’s very disrespectful.

As for a lot of the other companies in trouble–same problem. Arrogance and wishful thinking.