What we have here is a failure to communicate...

Detroit's Big 3 are whinging at alarming levels right now. Solely blaming the current economic crisis as the reason for their desperate predicament without taking responsibility just underscores the disconnect between corporation and customer.

Hint: Why are none of the Japanese auto manufacturers sharing the microphone with you?

At the end of the day, there are many reasons why the likes of Bob Nardelli (remember his monster-sized golden parachute as a result of his stellar performance at Home Depot) and cronies are begging for help from Washington, but I would submit to you that it's really all about a particular mindset - an outdated, detached, aloof, brash and arrogant one at that.

Now I know you might not all agree that Michael Moore is the all-seeing and all-knowing swami and visionary, but he did put out a movie 20 years ago warning about exactly this. To quote Moore on Larry King last night:

...what really went wrong is that General Motors has had this philosophy from the beginning that what's good for General Motors is good for the country. So, their attitude was we'll build it and you buy it. We'll tell you what to buy. You just buy it. Eventually, the consumer got smart and said, 'You know what, I'd like a car that gets a little better gas mileage. I'd like a car that's safer on the road,' so they started to buy other cars. General Motors still wouldn't change. They still kept building the wrong cars, and more and more people stopped buying them.

Moore continues and specifically says that the big 3 never listened. Bottom line, they did not join the conversation. I can't put it any differently. They never listened to their customers; they never listened to the market; they never listened to the industry.

And they doggedly continued to go to market with a disconnected product line using a disconnected methodology: advertising, led by it's false prophet, the 30-second spot.

I can't help but think of the latest campaign for Cadillac, aimed at predominantly women, spewing drivel about you turning your car on, so isn't it time your car return the favor. Huh? A car that gives a woman an orgasm? Give me a break. What utter crap! And what about the decision to focus on women via the outdated market research and backwards agency strategic advice attempting to pimp an old ride on a new John....or is it Jane?

And finally, there's that flying down to Washington in the Executive Jet thing that - if all else fails - reminds us all that in fact you cannot put lipstick on an old dog, unless of course you want to teach him how to fly, which of course we know is only possible if you're a pig. Whatever. Let's go bail out some more companies, shall we.

My only hope is that when they come back "leaner, meaner and more focused", they do it with a stronger connection with their community, engage in regular, frequent dialogue (including that listening thingy) and partner with their various constituencies to build a better mousetrap.

A man can dream, can't he?