
If the executives of those troubled financial institutions showed some Japanese humility and remorse, maybe the American people would have more understanding toward their plight during these tough economic times, according to Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley. As it is, his office has been deluged with calls from angry Iowans about any bailout plan, especially executive salaries. "I've suggested it wouldn't be a bad thing that the leadership of these institutions would take a Japanese-style approach to corporate governance, and I'm not talking about going out and committing suicide as some Japanese do in these circumstances, but I am talking about scenes I've seen on television where in belly-up corporations the CEOs go before the board of directors, before the public, before the stockholders and bow deeply and apologize for their mis-management. Something like that happening among Wall Street executives would go a long way toward satisfying my constituents and many Americans that help might be needed and would more gracefully be given by the taxpayers of this county"...more...