There is something to be said for the party at the Capitol Hill Dunk Tank that periodically invites the creme-de-la-creme from the Wall Street and Financial fraternity for cake, since they don’t eat bread. Even as we are crying foul at the massive re-distribution of wealth that is taking place under our noses, our house reps, in an effort to wipe our tears and divert us, have hauled up various economic criminals (bank and auto heads), real criminals (peanut tycoon), camouflaged criminals (Treasury and SEC officials who plead incompetence rather than malicious intent), and financial criminals (Madoff et al), to a Capitol Hill Dunk Fest.
Our brave leaders have put their heads in the lion’s jaws for our sakes. They recognize that we are yelling for blood. And that we want justice. Because we know, in our heart of hearts, that the money the CEOs have earned is not for an honest day’s work. It is “earned” with a loaded dice – by knowing the “right” people, “lobbying” for their interests, and fighting against legislature that benefits the country.
So they drag these suited, booted, arrogant, smirking, know-it-all, talking heads to Capitol Hill.
“Did you know that you were indulging in risky behavior when you encouraged your loan officers to push high interest mortgages to people who couldn’t repay them?
Dunk!
“How much money did you lend out last year after you took TARP money and how much did you lend out the year before when didn’t have access to TARP money? Why are both amounts the same?”
Dunk!
“How many millions did you pay as bonus to your employees with one hand, when your company was in the red and grasping taxpayer money with the other hand?”
Dunk!
“Weren’t your companies the ones that fought hard against legislation for building energy-efficient cars? Now why are you coming to us for help when gas prices make your cars unaffordable to run?”
Dunk!
“How did you come to Capitol Hill today? Did you use the Corporate jet?”
Slam Dunk!
Oh, I know, I know, one cannot shame the shameless. To all intents and purposes, a tongue-lashing is not the same as a lashing.
Our only hope of reprieve from yet another bubble is to enact strict and loophole-free laws before we hand out our money to the grubby hands of the banks. But since our interests are not protected here too, we must rely on Wall Street’s sense of shame and well concealed patriotism in order to help dig our nation out of the mess of their making.
Even if the dunkfest does not accomplish its goal – to shame the CEO’s into good behavior, it at least indicates that at least our lawmakers feel our pain, while they are handing out the futures of our children and grandchildren to dishonest and avaricious people. We should be able to take comfort in that.
Jaya's musings 