From Madoff to Drabinsky and Gottlieb to AGI bonuses, Canadians and Americans alike are outraged by wealthy Wall Street and Bay Street "crooks". Suddenly the lustre of the North American aristocracy has worn off. Madoff investors cry foul. Op-ed writers demand justice. Lawmakers demand payback.
What people forget is that it is our uber capitalist, make-as-much-as-you-can-and-run mentality that has caused all this trouble in the first place. When becoming wealthy is our main objective we'll go to any lengths to amass a fortune. These men (and women) who have connived and cheated have merely done what society has encouraged them to do. When you, oh wealthy American/Canadian, decided to invest your money with Madoff, to see large returns, you were playing the same game. These people aren't crooks if they are making you money now are they? Even if that means investing in weapons manufacturing companies, tobacco companies, and third world dictatorships. As long as you see x % of a return you don't really care. Suddenly however the rug was pulled from under you. Your trusted and faithful investor broke rank and stabbed you in the back.
Seeing the millions/billions of dollars of money in front of him/her, he/she dipped his/her hand into the cookie jar. Goodness gracious!
All these teary-eyed, banner waving, victims standing outside Manhattan courtrooms, crying for blood. You knew what game you were playing. Why is their greed wrong and yours isn't? You chose to do business with these people. Promised outrageous returns you invested in brokerages with absolutely no ethics. You didn't care how your money was made so long as you go it. Well, someone else go to it first I guess. You'll see no tears from me, nor from the people in countries where missiles financed by your investments destroy their homes, and multi-nationals enslave them with their pathetic wages.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment