This week it was learned that General Motors had
known about a faulty ignition switch problem for at least a decade. Yet, their
leaders did not sound an alarm to consumers. In a written statement issued by
GM, the company acknowledges that 13 deaths and 31 crashes are linked to an
ignition switch problem in certain car models in
which the ignition switch inadvertently moves to the "off" position
and turns off the engine. In those instances, many electrical components in the
affected vehicles wouldn't work including airbags, which wouldn't deploy in crashes.
This is a serious problem that has
not only resulted in the unnecessary and tragic deaths of 13 people, but it
calls into question the integrity of GM’s leadership. Why did they withhold
this information from consumers and dealers? If the leadership at GM did not
tell us the truth, they lied. It’s that simple. There’s no shades of gray when
it comes to life and death issues. Sure, they can settle lawsuits and buy the
silence of grieving families. But, the fact is leaders lied. It’s that simple.
When human lives are at stake and
the leadership of a company knows they have a faulty problem with their
product, leaders have a sacred responsibility to come forward and warn
consumers. When leaders do not come forward and issue a warning to unsuspecting
consumers, it is a criminal act and they should be charged, convicted and
punished harshly to send a message that society will not tolerate liars whose
silence or misleading statements cause deaths.
It has become all too convenient
for leaders to lie. Recently, consumers were sickened by contaminated Foster
Farms chicken. Their leaders did not come forward and accept responsibility
until they were pressured by consumer organizations and retailers. Why? What
were Foster Farms leaders afraid of?
Toyota’s leadership denied any
responsibility related to its faulty accelerator problems in 2009. Its chairman was shamed before the United
States Congress and Toyota suffered major losses because of its credibility gap
and deceptive practices. Ironically, despite jury convictions holding Toyota
responsible for the sticky accelerator problems, the U.S. Department of
Transportation issued a report stating most of the crashes were the fault of
drivers who stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake. What rubbish! Tell
that to the widow of the California Highway Patrol officer and his passengers
who died in a fiery crash caused by the faulty Lexus accelerator. Is anyone
with a brain suggesting a CHP officer doesn’t know how to tell the difference
between the accelerator and the brake? So, this is the nonsense companies and
government agencies are feeding us; and, they expect us to believe them! No wonder consumers have lost faith and trust
in government and corporations.
It seems the system is full of
liars who will do anything and say anything to cover their rear. But why?
What’s wrong with coming clean and telling people the truth? No one is
suggesting that a company needs to admit guilt. That’s why we have courts. But,
certainly, when the data suggests you have a problem with a product, you need
to alert your consumers. It’s the only way you will maintain their trust and
earn their respect. But, corporate leaders have been taught by their
shareholders and lawyers to be silent, say nothing, don’t admit to anything that
could negatively impact our quarterly earnings. This is the low level to which
corporate leadership has sunk. Had it been the daughter of GM’s president who
was killed because her ignition switch clicked off, I wonder how fast GM’s
engineers would have identified and solved the problem?
Now, GM has serious credibility
problems with consumers. Let me put it in terms the bean-counters and leaders
at GM can relate to. The bottom line question that GM should be worried about
it this: “What parent would ever buy their teenager a GM product knowing its
leadership withheld data that contributed to the death of 13 people?” The
answer is no one!
