makehope

The answer? "Bailout" Honda, Toyota and BMW.

Uh Huh that's right. Instead of spending $25,000,000,000 bailing out the big mediocre three why not invest in Toyota, Honda and/or BMW! All three have BIG plants in the US employing thousands of Americans for gosh sake! (BMW has a thriving plant 90 miles from me in Greenville SC).

So here's why...

1. First it's a better investment -- these companies are already winning in the marketplace
   1a. they would better know how to put the capital to work
2. The investment would impact American workers/economy more immediately & longer term 
   2a. It would help foreign companies -- so what! they own a LARGE piece of America anyway (get over it)
3. How would it work?
   3a. Make the investment contingent on adding capacity or fast track building of new plants in the US -- better to have successful companies building on success versus failed ones retooling in the hopes of success.
4. Why would it work?
   4a. If the medium three went under there would be a supply (capable/motivated workforce) and demand (replace GM, Chrysler, Ford car volume) opportunity of epic proportions.

That's it. Bold yes. Simple yes. Smart yes.  Congress has asked the car-makers for a business plan geesssh can you imagine reading that? versus asking BMW or Honda what would they would do with $20 billion?

**Oh and one more thing take the VOLT project, choose a joint venture partner Honda, Ford or BMW put a/the Steve Jobs in charge and give him** 12 months to get it to market...well you get the idea! (**yeah I know...but he didn't know anything about the music or phone biz either.)

Free the Beatles! Let it Be

What you're about to read may seem naive and impossible - you're right. BUT what if some "think different" people went to work on this - the bad news is the only problem is money, the good news is the only problem is money. Imagine the power, the legacy of Michael Jackson and the Beatles music curing cancer or alzheimers or providing clean drinking water or saving education everywhere.
Imagine indeed. July 3, 2009

 With the events of Michael Jackson's death...I am revisiting my original post from January 2007...

What if...
Today the surviving members of the Beatles, Paul and Ringo wives Yoko and Olivia announced the creation of The Apple Core Foundation. Together Apple Inc. and Apple Corps. and Michael Jackson's estate will fund this foundation to benefit (insert four five causes). Starting today the complete Beatles digital music library will be available exclusively on iTunes. Further the lads from Liverpool and Michael's estate signed a 100 year grant whereby 100% of all proceeds from the Beatles music sold on iTunes will go to the Apple Core Foundation to battle (insert four causes) until they are defeated. Apple Inc. will distribute the music on iTunes at no cost to the project.

Imagine (that)

• A remarkably bold and sticky move? Yes.
• A global gift generational in scope? Yes.
• A beautiful nod to George and John and Michael? Yes.
• A permanent and poignant legacy? Yes. 
• A chance to buy great music and give back? Yes.
  

So you say it could never happen because its only about the money and I say it absolutely could happen because after all its only about the money.