So, I've been quite derelict about reading through my RSS feeds for news and assorted other usual web viewings, so today will not be a Whacky Wednesday where I post some crazy links I've come across in the last week or so. I could, but I'd have to dig around and post ones from today and that breaks the rules.
Never one to shy away from conflicts that are not in my area of expertise or affect me directly, I turn my rhetoric to the economy and the AIG year end bonuses funded by the American tax payers. That's right, we as a people payed several CEO's multi million dollar year end bonus. I'm not the only one who had a visceral reaction to this, except I am taking a different tack than a lot of the chatter out on newsroom floors, which, though not uncommon, can seem a bit convoluted as it points fingers at a different group than what should apparently be demonized.
On the surface, this is a story of incompetent spending and outrageous financial behavior on the parts of high ranking corporate execs. This does grind my gears, don't get me wrong. But are we really that surprised? Seriously, this is the kind of spending that got us into trouble in the first place. If the government is giving out free money to large corporations and it is in effect unregulated, what keeps the corporations from continuing in their usual business practices? This isn't the fault of any one group of people. It is the fault of a nation. It points to several things, which I will expand in a moment. First, it indicates that large corporations are part of a systemic moral failure that, unchecked, will eventually lead to our downfall as a culture. Second, no mater how bipartisan the resolution, throwing money at the problem that is unregulated, unchecked, unmarked, and so ludicrously indulgent simply encourages the problem, not correct it. Third, it points out the level of idiocy that is required of law makers. Ok, this one won't be expanded on, it's just a selfish point to be made.
Ok, systemic moral failure is a fairly large indictment to level against a group of people. Let me elucidate a potential line of reasoning that will soften the blow. All of us make poor financial choices at one time or another. This does not serve to dignify or justify such irrational spending. It does, however, serve to humanize those who have made the decisions. We are all members of the human race and as such are prone to the same mistakes regardless of what we are responsible for. The people at the top of corporations are there because they do love to make money and have chased it until they have made millions, but because of how lust for wealth works, it will never be enough. Their past experience informs their current actions. By seizing every possible opportunity to increase their wealth, they have made it to the top of the corporate ladder. So when an opportunity like this arrises, is it really surprising that they take advantage of a new system to their personal benefit? The shock that people have that someone who takes advantage of the system will again continue to do so is unwarranted and quite honestly borders on the realm of stupidity.
So the summation is effectively these people are consumed with greed like anyone in America and went through and took advantage of structures that benefitted them even though that was not what the structures were for. We all do that.
Ok, having just looked at the two other points, neither one really needs expansion and it's time for me to get breakfast. I can't think about this anymore.
