Are Greedy, Selfish, Utterly Immoral People the Only Ones Who Can Save Our Economy?

by: Mike Lux

Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:41


The newspapers are full of Wall Street businesspeople and conservative economists and pundits worried that all this demand for an end to multi-million bonuses is going to destroy our economy by driving away the best talent frmo the firms taking government bailout money. A typical quote from the Washington Post:

"I honestly think TARP banks have a grave risk of losing just the people they need to keep to help get them out of trouble," said Pat Wieser, co-head of financial services at Rhodes Associates in Manhattan, a boutique executive recruiting firm.

So let me get this straight: in this horrendous economy, with companies in the financial sector shedding massive numbers of jobs, these firms can't retain or find people smart enough to manage their assets in a responsible way? With the fate of the entire global economy at stake? There aren't enough people who are both skilled at managing finances and patriotic and moral enough to step into the breach and save their coutnry and the world from even worse economic crisis?

I know I have beaten up on Wall Street bankers a fair amount, but I think whis way underestimates just how depraved and immoral they are. With the fate of our ecomony in the balance, I believe that these companies can find enough talented people who are willing to make that ultimate sacrifice and not receive a multi-million dollar bonus this year.

Mike Lux :: Are Greedy, Selfish, Utterly Immoral People the Only Ones Who Can Save Our Economy?

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Simple answers to simple questions (0.00 / 0)
Y--

Well, that's what the banksters and the administration would  have us believe. But it's not so simple, is it?

I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD.  


the definition of insanity (0.00 / 0)
If a hypothetical such person - one who has the knowledge and ability to solve the problem they themselves caused with their greed - will not lift a finger without millions of dollars in compensation, why would we expect such a person to actually solve the problem rather than continue to siphon off as much as they can get away with while pretending to solve the problem but really not giving a fuck while the whole thing continues to go down in flames? That's exactly what they've been doing up until now, isn't it? What's that cliche about the definition of insanity?

miasmo.com

It's not work that creates wealth, silly. Even Obama doesn't (4.00 / 2)
believe that.
At the same time, the rest of us can't afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit. That drive is what has always fueled our prosperity, and it is what will ultimately get these banks lending and our economy moving once more."

So it still is not the time to reward work over wealth.  Not the time to produce things with skilled workers.  It's still gamblin' time with other people's money.  Yee Haw!


You tell it, Feral Cat! (4.00 / 1)
We don't even get work and wealth.  We just get a softer version of profits over people.  

[ Parent ]
hmmm (4.00 / 1)
Banksters going Galt.  

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The wrong guys (0.00 / 0)
What makes these greedy jerks the right guys?  Did they make the right calls?  No.  Are loans going out to credit wotrhy customers? No.  Is their judgement impeccable?  No.  Do they wear the right clothes and tell the right jokes?  Yes.

Quite frankly, that should not cut it.  There are a million replacements or more out there who can do a better job for less.

It may seem like a stupid level but these guys are the equivalent of a bunch of people who were named the football coaches at Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, and the rest of the usual suspects who turned 10-2 and 11-1 teams into 2-10 and 3-9 teams.  We need to get them out of their contracts (if neccessary) and replace them.


good call (0.00 / 0)
Oklahoma fired perennial loser John Blake, and got Bob Stoops. Two seasons later, OU won the national championship.  

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[ Parent ]
Thank you, Mike, (0.00 / 0)
for this post.  I agree.

Whatever happened to Free Market Competition? (0.00 / 0)
The news these days is replete with stories about people lining up for job applications, often with hundreds applying for a few jobs.  

Why is it that competition for jobs is good for everybody but these Wall Street guys?  They don't want to be regulated because the "free market" is supposed to work so well, but when it comes to their own position and status, all of a sudden, they are indispensable.  

Nonsense.  You've got a few hundred, maybe a couple thousand guys, managing all this stuff.  For what they are paying out, they could hire an army of people to come in and clean up the mess.  

But that would mean more people would have to learn "where the bodies are buried" as the saying goes.  These obscene bonuses pay for silence, not just the work.  


Oh give it a rest (0.00 / 0)
these firms can't retain or find people smart enough to manage their assets in a responsible way

Why in the world would these people decide to take a job at a place like AIG?  Where they know they can't trust their employment contracts?  When they could go to another firm, with more money, where they won't be vilified, where they actually have a career future?

I know I sure as hell wouldn't.  I guess that makes me greedy, selfish, utterly amoral.  


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