''TOO BIG TO FAIL - A ROLE REVERSAL?"

As proof of my recent apparent fascination with the world of gloom and doom I share the following:

When GM was accused of several mechanical problems with their vehicles that led to considerable injuries and deaths, CEO Mary Barra appeared to be willing to gather America into her bosom and assured us that all will be well - as GM would "do the right thing"

That was one Mary Barra.

What impressed me at that time was her sworn promise to uphold civic responsibilities - not just legal ones - and that the GM we all have known and loved for years would be "fully transparent."

It was apparently another Mary Barra who met with Congress last week, and her testimony suggested she had an epiphany - something that, according to the Oxford Dictionary has more than one meaning.

One definition is "A manifestation of a divine or supernatural being."

Unfortunately, this is not the one we have embraced in the  corporate decisions made by "big business."

The one with which we have more familiarity - found further down in the definition list is: "A moment of sudden revelation or insight".

Apparently, this is the one experienced by Ms Barra - and also the one that will be celebrated by GM's executives and most of their stockholders.

You got to assume that Mary - similar to another well known lady referenced in our last blog -  had apparently "mis-spoke" in her previous promise of full disclosure. I can think of no other plausible explanation

Our Mary said in response to questions by Congress last week:

GM will not unseal confidential settlements reached with the families of      victims who died in cars with faulty switches. As one Congressman stated, "this could have saved lives" had they become public earlier (or at all?).

GM will not release documents and interviews that were part of an internal investigation by a handpicked former prosecutor.

GM will not waive a shield against lawsuits won in it's 2009 bankruptcy reorganization when our glorious appointed/and or elected leaders bailed out GM and gave them immunity for pre-2009 sales of millions of defective cars.

GM will not support making executives criminally culpable when they hide a defect that kills or injures.

GM will not dismiss the lawyer who ran the legal department that "secretly" settled claims for the misfunction of the Chevy Cobalt and says "he was unaware of the car's deadly problem until this year."

Last week, The New York Times also reported that GM "repeatedly" dodged safety regulators' inquiries about fatal crashes in which GM airbags failed - raising a red flag in the face of  most sane individuals as well as questions about what executives knew and when they knew it.

Oh, you sinners, - a category in which I ingratiatingly include myself - when you arrive at the Gates of St. Peter - fret not.

Just tell him you're "Too Big To Fail".