Worst-Run Companies Deserved Their Spots

MILLBURN, N.J. (TheStreet) -- Last week I published my annual list of worst-run companies. I want to follow up here by clarifying some reader misconceptions and address some reactions to that article.

Let me begin by saying that I am a paid contributor to TheStreet.com. I am not an employee. I clearly declare at the end of all articles any positions, long or short, in the companies I have written about. All articles and opinions that I publish are my own and not the opinion of TheStreet.com.

Furthermore, while my articles are edited by TSCM staff, they are done so to correct grammar, to clarify comprehension, to fit available space and, for general presentation purposes. At no time have I ever been influenced by TheStreet.com management or employees as to the content of my articles.

Thus, to all of those critics who believe that TheStreet.com and I are involved some sort of conspiracy to shoot down certain companies, I can unequivocally state that that is not true.

I am a capitalist. I hope that all companies, public and private, succeed, except in cases where success would be against the common good of society. The more successful companies there are, the more jobs there will be for people and the more money those people will spend.