A Bad Week for the Good Guys

It's been a while since I've ranted. I've tried hard to stay positive, to focus on the possible, and to overlook the mess around us. As hard as it was, I attempted to take the high ground. And while I'm not entirely proud of my avoidance of the issues raging these many weeks, it seemed only appropriate to seek the good, the wholesome, even the joy in all of us.

Well, no more Dr. Nice Guy. This taking the high road is killing me! I haven't even criticized for what seems likes ages. For me, that's like not breathing!

(That stuff last week about airlines? Wasn't that criticism, you ask? No, my child. That was observation. There's a difference.)

But enough is enough. Because at least three things happened last week that bring blood to a boil and beg for -- no, demand -- our scorn. Let's consider each in turn.

Goldman Sachs. How best to put this? A reputable firm with a slimy underbelly? A bank with a strong reputation for integrity undermined by a few unseemly, unethical characters? A highly-successful, brilliantly-managed organization able to profit handsomely even in the most difficult economic times since the crash of 1929?

Those didn't do it for you? Try this: A firm that helped orchestrate the near-collapse of our financial system, mislead their own customers and profited obscenely even while their exploits contributed to the displacement of thousands of homeowners, the near-bankruptcy of dozens of cities and municipalities, and the loss of millions of jobs. More accurately, an investment bank that likely profited as a result of these horrors.

Slime, to be sure.

Lose a pile of money when the stock market fell 50%? Live in a city struggling to meet its budget? Lose your job because of a downturn in the economy? Is your home worth less than the amount you owe on it or, worse, lose your home as a result of a subprime loan? Or are you an innocent bystander, caught in this financial maelstrom?

Please join me in thanking, at least in part, Goldman Sachs.

At long last, their apparent manipulation of the market is becoming more visible. As you undoubtedly know, The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Goldman three weeks ago alleging that the firm defrauded its investors. Their charge? That Goldman executed a series of deals in which the investment bank seems to have sold "exotic mortgage products" that it knew would fail -- indeed bet would fail -- to unwitting investors, many of whom were their own customers.

In English this means that Goldman is suspected of having bet big bucks that the subprime mortgage market -- a market they helped create -- was headed for a nasty fall. The problem -- the possible crime -- was that Goldman was, at the very same time, selling investment products to their customers based on the mortgage market growing.

Defrauding your own customers. Probably not part of Tom Peter's equation for long-term success.

Officials at the U.S. Department of Justice are now reviewing whether the SEC's fraud charges against Goldman warrant a full-scale criminal investigation, according to ABC News. This follows last week's testimony of a number of Goldman Sachs executives before the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. In the meantime, Goldman's shareholders are suing the investment bank about their executive pay practices.

Must be a fun time to be a Goldman Sachs employee. Certainly much more fun than having gotten caught -- like we all did -- in the financial mess the bank helped create.

If true, we're all living through a mess Goldman Sachs helped create. What's the penalty for causing thousands to lose their homes and millions to lose their jobs? Let's hope it's HUGE.

Damn huge.

A Leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Talk about never learning from our mistakes. Officials estimate that the explosion last week of BP's oil rig only 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana is spilling about 5,000 barrels, or 200,000 gallons, a day into the gulf.

200,000 gallons a day. Every day.

At this rate, the disaster, which has already killed 11 humans, could eclipse the 11 million gallons that leaked from the Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989. Especially since it might take three months to drill a relief well to plug the gushing well. Why so long? Because it's 5,000 feet underwater.

Two hundred thousand gallons a day for 90 days. Sounds like 18,000,000 gallons. About 50 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River.

And, we're told, this was all preventable. Something about fail-safe systems. (Ever read Fail Safe? A very scary book. That system didn't work either.)

How about this for prevention: Stop drilling for oil where ever a spill would be catastrophic. We know that drilling for oil has risks, the biggest being a devastating spill. So, why not get smart for once and stop drilling in places where millions of gallons of oil would create a huge mess? Like in the ocean.

Because you know who will pay for this: Us. In more ways than one.

Damn.

And Then There's Arizona. Where to begin? Last week, the governor of this beautiful state signed a law making the failure to carry immigration documents a crime. It also gave the police broad powers to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

Anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Anyone.

To whom might you be referring, Arizona?

Thinking about the Catholics? Blacks? Asians? The GLBT community?

Can't be the Jews, though there was a time when my grandparents had to show their papers. A different time, different circumstances. But the fear was the same.

Wait, Democrats?!?

Oh, Arizona.

It's undoubtedly time to change your state's motto from Ditat Deus (Latin for "God Enriches") to "Your papers, please." Or, more appropriately, given the true intent of the law, "Sus papeles, por favor."

Oh, Arizona. There must be a better way. And we know that a vast majority of you supported this law! You've clearly not be using your SPF 2,000 sunblock. Or wearing a hat.

Because you just made it clear to everyone who supports the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States that you are fascist. A racist one, at that. And, as "bad" goes, being a fascist racist is about as bad as it gets. (Worse than being a sassafras-bivot. Which is really bad. Just ask my sister.)

So much for Spring Training next year. No way am I spending my money on your hotels, restaurants, movies and ball parks. No more parking tickets for me in the great state of Arizona.

Because you've messed up, Arizona. Big time.

Damn!