August 01, 2011

Leadership Kudos and Gaffes: Automakers lead on upping standards, while politicians distract the public

Leadership Kudos this week go the CEOs of U.S. automakers, Alan Mulally of Ford, Dan Ackerson of GMand Sergio Marchionne for their leadership in enthusiastically agreeing to automobile fuel economy standards that will increase to 54 miles per gallon by 2025. This represents a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gases and a 40 percent reduction in fuel consumption compared with today’s averages. For the next decade or more, using energy efficiently is the best new source of energy.

Leadership Gaffes go to all the politicians who distracted the country with a confidence-shattering debate on raising the debt ceiling – an artificially- egrocreated limit – instead of focusing on the growth and job creation the country so desperately needs. No matter how the politicians spin the agreement, there are no winners here, and a lot of losers, including the faith in our country’s fiscal stability.