airmiles goes economy

not quite, but:

It would be easy to dismiss today’s rant (however spot-on it might be) by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman as yet another ideological tirade against the U.S. automobile industry. But based on the bad news coming out of shopping-mall owner General Growth Properties [GGP], it is no wonder Friedman is feeling crankier than usual. That’s because the author’s wife, Ann (née Bucksbaum), is an heir to the General Growth fortune. In the past year, the couple—who live in an 11,400-square-foot mansion in Bethesda, Maryland—have watched helplessly as General Growth stock has fallen 99 percent, from a high of $51 to a recent 35 cents a share. The assorted Bucksbaum family trusts, once worth a combined $3.6 billion, are now worth less than $25 million.

Twenty five million’s quite a lot, if not real money. Also, there’s the pocket money he gets from lecturing the world on its business at the New York Times. Still, you wonder if it’s enough to knock some of the bumptiousness out of him.

Well, no. Of course not. It remains our duty to adopt policies and practices which will see his family portfolio balloon once more. In fact the issue is all the more urgent. See to it, little people.

Comments

[Paul Yarbles]

...the couple—who live in an 11,400-square-foot mansion in Bethesda, Maryland—have watched helplessly as General Growth stock has fallen 99 percent, from a high of $51 to a recent 35 cents a share. The assorted Bucksbaum family trusts, once worth a combined $3.6 billion, are now worth less than $25 million.

Haha! Suck on this, Thomass, you neoliberal, imperialist, and violence-pushing pig! Here's to General Growth going belly up! May you have to live off of your crappy and almost 100% wrong articles and books and the mindless movements of your mustache forever and ever.