Ford announced its "Way Forward" with huge white- and blue-collar job cuts, and plans to shutter 14 plants.

The day after, stories were replete with photos of despondent workers leaving Ford's Wixom, MI, plant, heads hung low, straggling across the parking lot, pink slips in hand, or bellying up to a Dearborn, MI, bar, having just learned they are out of work.

Bill Ford hit back on television last week, appearing in a campaign to talk about the company's problems and ...