While passengers on the Carnival Triumph were enduring tropical weather without any toilets or air conditioning, and sleeping on deck in improved tents made out of laundry, Carnival CEO Micky Arison was also paying attention to the heat — the Miami Heat, at whose basketball game he was spotted courtside on Tuesday. Arison is no stranger to the Heat — he owns the team — but he’s likely to face some for failing to make a show of concern for the 3,200 passengers stranded for five days at sea.
In Japan, such a disaster is an occasion for the CEO to step down in a demonstration of shame and accountability. In the United States, apparently, it’s an occasion for the CEO to push his senior VP out in front of the cameras, as Arison did. (Does the annual bonus cover the cost of humiliation?)

Comments
Because he gets the big bucks, he should have to appear in sack cloth and do penance for a situation behind his control? Too many human interest stories - aren't all that fascinating. So, he watched the basketball team that he owns- and all puns intentional- didn't seem to give a s..... Nero got a bad rep for fiddling while Rome burned.
This comment has been removed.
In the US it is never the man on tops fault. It is never the CEO's fault for the banks failure or the company's failure. It is never the General's fault for the behavior of the troops. In the US there is always a soldier, a mid-management loser, some aide, some underfunded guy to get the jail time, take the heat. And a good portion of the American public shrugs its shoulders and says so what?
In America the "successful" man is not required to take accountability, to have ethics, to have morality, to even be aware of all those who are below him, their well being, their very existence. You see financial success is how we here in the US measure a man. Well at least a good portion of us.
Some rich guy owns a sports team and also runs a large cruise ship ship line. The team loaded with super stars fails to rip off several banners in a row and maybe there is some lack of interest in all his dealings on his part. Gee, I'm sure gald that would never happen in Boston.
If the "Japanese solution" were to be observed in the US, our government would be denuded of politicians; CEO, and etc., chairs would be empty; and we would be free to start all over again. Would this be a bad thing?
Personally, I would favor falling on one's sword.
While our ambassador and three others were being murdered, our President was in Las Vegas.
This comment has been removed.
Shouldn't it be "improvised" rather than "improved" tents? Is anyone proof reading at the Globe?
another out of touch one percent er CEO.
Did this ship (the Carnival Triumph) not have a back-up generator in case the mail propulsion system failed? I'd think this would be a requirement.