Mulally: A Dollar Will In Fact Not Make Me Holler

When asked by members of Congress last week if he'd cut his salary from $2 million to one tenth of a sawbuck (why I can't write one dollar, I don't know), his response was clear "I think I'm okay where I am."  Well, heck yeah Alan, I'd be good with two million as well, the problem is your company isn't okay where it is.  Given that you accepted $21.67 million in compensation last year, how about some good will this year? Now, I know that some folks would ask me "Would you work for a dollar?" I'd say it would depend on circumstances, but if I had millions in the bank and no worries for my family's well-being, yeah I would work for a buck. Maybe I'd get creative and take stock instead of cash, but I would definitely be willing to make a token gesture in order to "share the pain."

You could also argue that Alan ran into a burning house at Ford and therefore deserves hazardous duty pay. I am a little more willing to buy this argument. Ford is the least in jeopardy, thanks largely to its decision awhile back to use pretty much all of its assets as collateral for loans. There is no way that you can make the same argument for Rick Wagoner. Rick was in the house well before there was any sign of fire and honestly should share some of the burden that his employees are feeling. As for Nardelli, well technically he's not drawing any salary right now, but God only knows what sort sneaky compensation package the wizards at Cerberus have come with.

source:  wsj