Never ever give up your private jet

I don’t know which is worse, whinny auto executives pleading for $30- plus billion or lawmakers suggesting changes in car designs. For a preview on how this is going to turn out try imagining the spawn of a PT Cruiser and Smart Car.

But, seriously, what is up with Richard Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of GM, telling the Senate Banking Committee Thursday, “We’re here today because we made mistakes.” Who needs to hear that?

Fixing the economy is not like joining a 12-step program. You don't admit you’re powerless, apologize to everyone and promise to change your ways.

Instead, Wagoner should have flown in on his private jet and invited the press to film the landing. Bring it on, boys. In tough times, you need to prove you have moxie.

In contrast, a tech company executive will never, ever admit a mistake. They’ll issue a patch, rush a new version upgrade, and if it’s a really serious problem, they’ll call it a user error.

This in-your-face attitude is starting to look like a virtue in this economy.

Imagine if Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer, or a Scott McNealy, or any number of other tech veterans were on that congressional panel. You can bet they would have flown in on their private jets. Ellison probably would have gotten a 747 for the occasion, and Ballmer would have asked for landing rights on Pennsylvania Avenue.

If you ask the tech industry how it could spend $30-plus billion to create new jobs, and jobs quickly, my bet is the tech executives would offer a long list of ideas. Now that would be a hearing, and it would give this country a message that’s a heck of lot better than the saddening scene now playing out in Washington.