This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Why We Think It’s OK to Cheat and Steal (Sometimes)
Why We Think It’s OK to Cheat and Steal (Sometimes)
While there’s a general consensus among the Zero Hedge community that the big boys are manipulating the various markets to maintain and even accelerate the Ponzi, this still requires a great deal of conscious participation by those lower down the ladder. While many of us are calling for the hangman’s noose around Blankfein or Bernanke’s neck, shouldn’t we also being stringing up your next door neighbor or that self righteous prick of a brother-in-law or maybe even you?
One of the concepts I constantly highlight is that we’re all susceptible to this behavior. And while I probably wouldn’t get much argument on this point from the more self aware and honest readers, I’m absolutely certain they would argue with me as to degree. We’re all liars, cheats and thieves; of this I have no doubt. Once this is understood and as painful as this may be to internalize, the only questions remaining are to what degree and how do we rationalize and justify this degree? You would be surprised how much your surroundings and peer group have to do with this rather than just your personal moral code.
We’re chasing windmills if we think that by getting rid of certain people or regimes (once again) we will change the direction we’re headed. This is a multi headed Hydra and our heads are there as well. In order to understand the nature of the beast in government and on Wall Street, we must first come to know the beast within. I can’t tell you how many of my clients have no problem informing me that while they’re horrified by the corruption and theft in this country, they want their piece of the pie. What’s good for the gander is good for the goose as long as the goose can rationalize it away as just trying to maintain their life style and income.
I’m not judging my clients for I live in a glass house. But this will not change unless we begin to understand and accept that the beast is within and that we aren’t just fighting an external enemy but ultimately one that is internal. I’m absolutely certain that a major rationalization and justification used by the powers that be for pumping the Ponzi is that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are demanding it. And they would be correct. There is an interesting video on the web of Catherine Austin Fitts asking a group of people for a show of hands of those who would be willing to experience major losses to their 401(k) and pension accounts to stop the beast. Very few hands went up.
Dan Ariely, author of “Predictably Irrational” gave an enlightening and informative talk last March (2009) about “bugs in the moral code”, a talk which coincided with the depths of the stock market crash. This 16 minute video is well worth watching if for no other reason than the insight it will bring you regarding your own behavior. I won’t spoil the video by discussing the contents other than to ask you to pay particular attention near the end when he mentions that the further the psychological or physical distance between you and the actual money, the higher the propensity to steal. He then mentions this helps explain the wholesale theft using derivatives. I agree.
For thousands of years there has been cycle after cycle of people allowing themselves to be exploited and abused by the few. This will never end until we understand why we willingly slip on the chains that bind us to our masters. I submit that unless and until we’re willing to explore these extremely painful areas within our own dark abyss, we’re doomed to more of the same. I’m not trying to divert attention from the sociopaths; I’m saying the sociopaths are home grown. We can do all the weed pulling we feel is needed and more will grow unless we go after the roots. And the roots are within.
Dan Ariely followed this up with another talk in May of 2009 exploring the question “Are we in control of our decisions” which is also well worth watching. That link is below as well.
Our Buggy Moral Code
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_on_our_buggy_moral_code.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUdsTizSxSI
Are We in Control of our Own Decisions
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X68dm92HVI
Dan Ariely at TED.com
http://www.ted.com/speakers/dan_ariely.html
Catherine Austin Fitts Web Site
http://solari.com/blog/
- advertisements -
You are right on. I have this same discussion with clients all the time. Fortunately (for me) 95% of them are of the same mind and are scared as hell. I’ve NEVER had this large a cash balance.
Couple of thoughts:
(i) We have fallen far from the faith of America’s founding fathers;
(ii) The essence of real truth is one’s character. The tree (the roots, as you refer) represents character, the fruit of the tree symbolizes the problem. Our political leaders, help groups, business leaders, fallen churches… spent their time fixing the fruit. But America’s problem is, down to its roots, a weak tree (moral character). A HEALTHY TREE BEARS HEALTHY FRUIT!!!!
There are many days I’m embarrassed to be in this business. As investors, I fear the bitter fruit today’s tree is producing – I tell clients the smart thing to do may be to simply wait, wait for today’s tree to wither and die.
My thought for the day: Proverbs 26:11 - As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. There are a lot of dogs wallowing in their own vomit right now.
+1
What role does the soil play in the growth of said tree? Is this proverbial soil: faith; culture; education; or is it the laws we allow ourselves to be governed by, or the court system that interprets said laws? Where does the worm originate? Is it not hereditary evidenced by the capacity in all of us to some degree? It cannot be removed from within, unless it be removed by the divine and replaced with something greater.
The timing of the question about sustaining major losses to their 401k is crucial.
Had that question been asked when the market was brutally reducing their wealth by 2/3 in November of 2008, I believe the answer to the question would have been entirely different than what it would be today when a portion of that loss has been restored, though they are still a 1/3 down from their once substantial savings.
That morality is situational does not excuse the degree to which the shysters have decided to exploit it.
We bear some responsibility, no doubt, but who caused the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and innocents in WWII? FDR and Churchill or Hitler, and Tojo?
Those in the First Cause category bear the ultimate responsibility for their actions which those that follow do not. The Creator is primary villain.
That I or my neighbor decide to take advantage of OFFERED zirps is whose ultimate reponsibility? I can easily decide to not hang my neighbor nor commit sepuku for doing so. But I can easily see no contradiction hanging Joe Cassano for inventing a financial vehicle that has the potential to destroy world economies.
A matter of scale should be part of the equation.
The absolute is basis, not apex. It is the essence from which we rise, not an ideal from which we fell. Good and bad are not a duel between the forces of light and dark, but the primordial biological binary code, the attraction of the beneficial and the repulsion of the detrimental. The best studies between the relationship between freedom and order have been in Complexity and Chaos theory. A good political comparison is that Somalia represents the extremes of freedom, while North Korea represents the extremes of order. It's best and most productive to cycle somewhere in the middle, without a complete flatline. That's why, when some people push it a bit too far, they get yanked back down.
For generations, there have been cycle after cycle of people allowing themselves to be abused and exploited by the few.
Not the exact quote. No Matter.
How does this represent the reality?
An extortioner living off the back of extorted people cannot afford to let these people walk off. This is vital.
An extortioner always tries to keep the easiest people to extort be the ones to be extorted.
I dont see where the allowance kicks in here. Balance of power is real.
When the Spartans led terror/punishment night expeditions on their ilot slaves at night, leaving this or that person throat open on the ground to be discovered at dawn in order to keep the slaves in check, I dont see where the allowance kicks in.
If there are no absolutes, as in right and wrong, then it is inevitable that corruption will become the norm. But how can we then call it corruption? wait...ok...now I see why GS isn't going to lose the SEC case.
Stop the merry-go-round I want to get off!
You are correct, if there is a lack of moral or ethical right and wrong then anyone thinking in such an 'old fashion way' should logically end their journey on this planet. The problem has become that those that push things like 'moral relativism' (which ironically means that all actions shouldn't be judged as they are equally good or bad, although some more than others) are largely in power at this time. I think a good start would be to put them in jail and vote the rest out of office, but I guess I'm just old fashion.
Also, I think GS will try to settle as they have already admitted fraud and want us to believe it was one 'rogue' employee.
bought two tacos for 2 bucks they gave me three by mistake . should i take one taco back cold limp. and let them throw it away or just eat it.
or just throw it away myself .
or i could send it to goldmans in a brown paper sack , they approve of little favors
You might go back tomorrow, buy 1 taco and pay for 2.
"The mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open." You might try opening yours up a bit more. As mentioned, you can always find one-offs to make yourself feel good about ignoring the general rule; and you can provide silly and/or false choices as you have done.
let goldman try this crap in china !!!!!!!!!! ask the guy from rio tinto about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly. Why not China? Because, the f_king Chinese wouldn't put up with it. Why would 2008 Americans vs. say 1950 Americans put up with it, because largely, and unlike the Chinese, they are not the same basic group. For example, again, why is Los Angeles more crime prone now than 40 years ago? If you parse the crime statistics by group, and overlay a few other key variables, you can at least begin to understand why.
Remember, Bubba's "it's the economy stupid." Well, it's the people ______.
Ultimately, this isn't rocket science. "Demographics is destiny." What makes a group of humans more or less ethical, as a general rule, it's the people. You can always find one person in a large group of humans that is unethical, corrupt, etc. Sure, times can change, but it's usually because of the people. Could the country have voted for a cultural Marxist that we had and still have virtually no information about to occupy the Oval Office in 1950? It did so in 2008. Was Los Angeles (i.e., on a per capita basis) as violent in 1950 as it is in 2010? ... Why is that, it's mostly the people. What changed between 1950 and 2010?
Until you come to grips with group differences, and the changes in the makeup of the country (or Wall Street, e.g.) as a large part of the probable cause, you will continue to just mentally masterbate over things like this "we are all sinners" stuff. Yes, we are 'sinners', but some are more than others; and it isn't until the generally non-sinner types are the referees/judges (i.e., in control of the schools, courts, etc.) that the current crop of sinners go and slink back under the rock they crawed out from. In short, it's the people, and the current crop on Wall Street and in Washington, D.C. should be taught a lesson, but let's not kid ourselves that the victims just need to change their way of thinking; they need to change the pool from which their leaders are coming, because that has changed over time for the worse.
Thank you again CD for your remarkable thoughts:
The difference between a difference of kind, and a difference of degree, is, of course, one of degree...
"Grant me the ability and desire to pursue that which is honest and just; and grant me the courage to determine that which is not."
Best,
Josh
A FRAUD AND A HALF (Repost):
http://williambanzai7.blogspot.com/2010/04/ivan-boeskys-haul-of-fraud-ep...
Someone said, "while the music is playing we all have to get up and dance. I'm still dancing..." So correct.
Bolweevil said "How can you sleep at night participating in the melt-up"?
Well said. Exploitation is a necessary part of our Darwinian pseudo-capitalist system. And that is good. Not participating in the melt-up would then perhaps amount to acquiescense to a life in a socialist, centrally-planned economy...
But that's what most of the Proles seem to want. Security. Guarantees. 100% sure returns.
I hope you guys see where I'm getting with this...none of that can co-exist with individual liberty.
K, pickin up what you're putting down. just don't agree that non-participation in exploitation necessarily results in an acquiescence to centralization, socialism & security. it could be in some cases quite the opposite actually.
have you ever read any Louis Kelso?
http://www.kelsoinstitute.org/downloadable-books.html
"The Roman arena was technically a level playing field. But on one side were the lions with all the weapons, and on the other the Christians with all the blood. That's not a level playing field. That's a slaughter. And so is putting people into the economy without equipping them with capital, while equipping a tiny handful of people with hundreds and thousands of times more than they can use."
In my mind sins, like lying cheating and stealing, have half lives.
If one understood that lying, cheating, and stealing are like taking a shit in a bathtub without the ability to get out; then one could gain the proper perspective.
The reason, the root reason why sin exists, is because people generally lack the infinite perspective. They know not what they do. An infinite being would understand, could easily see, that a short term material gain is not worth crapping in the tub because they don't actually die; just their bodies. An infinite being doesn't crap in the tub because they realize their progeny will live in the tub they've crapped in.
We lie, cheat, and steal because we lack the proper perspective.
We fail to understand that if you cheat someone then they will become angry, in anger he kicks his dog, the dog bites a kid... and on and on and on cause following effect.
CD,
You have a good way of looking at things, and provoke thought in the community here that strike at the core of the issues facing man.
What it boils down to is that man needs to grow up. He has a few more circuits of consciousness to awaken (Dr. Leary), and well, puberty is a bitch.
Always posting near the bottom of the barrel, I wish to offer you a kernel of thought, from my perspective. If you have heard of Jim Chanos and the first Earth Brigade, good exists within all forms of our beings, even the plastic green men bombing far off places.
Regards
CogDis, synchronic that your latest came right around the same time as Jesse's latest:
http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2010/04/financial-crisis-are-we...
some may consider them the cain & abel of this topic, but for some reason, i fail to see any antagonism between the two viewpoints, even though they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. maybe this is because, at various points in my life, i have both a liar, cheat & thief and on the receiving end of lies, deceit & thievery and have had the curious fortune to see both sides of the argument, for better and for worse. i will say that it was only when i was forced to confront both sides of my nature is when i was able to clearly see the endless suffering that was being created needlessly. they were not easy lessons to learn in either case and it took many mistakes before i finally was able to come to grips with how the cycles continued to perpetuate themselves due to an inability (or rather a refusal) to break through the patterns.
one thing i think you can both agree upon (and which i share) is the observation that lies, deceit & thievery are becoming deeply embedded into the social contract creating a spiral of misplaced guilt and behavior justification through the rationalization of victimization. that is a very slippery slope and it is vitally important for each of us to continue to struggle for a foothold in the ice, if only to recreate the notion of what we believe is healthy for ourselves and for others, no matter who and what and when is falling all around us.
cheers
This is, and always was, a spiritual crisis is what I am hearing from this thread. We are anomic and alienated, looking to fill our needs for connection with stuff, when first and foremost, we are not connected to ourselves because to do that would be to own the pain (I am going to go out on a limb here) that is inherent in the structure of modernity as it stamps itself, mercilessly, on our lives and beings. Our lives don't match the critters that we are. We inherited the system so on the face of it, it has an a' priori existence. We do not call it into question, but instead ourselves. Our pain is wrong rather than the system. If the system does not change, and we take it at face value, we are trapped, in pain. What is an organism to do but self medicate? Lie, cheat, steal, to get the short term ego fixes, because we have been led to believe that this is all there is.
That is the biggest lie of all.
We need to reinvent, not the wheel, but society itself.
Dear Ms Creant, I have found some of the answers I and many others are looking for. reading your post has invigorated my ambition to keep writing . I have been stalled for a long time because of my first rule.
Everyone has a right to be who they are.
The second thing that stalled me is "why fix illusion" ? The material world is a world of duality. Fix it here, it breaks somewhere else. Something out of balance goes to extremes until achieving new balance. From a loftier position i see the universe as Perfect at all times.
As a man i see the problems in the world and act to survive. Point is we are not bodies, citizens , taxpayers etc. We are above all, living awareness in the moment of now.
Once we assume and live as tho we are nothing more than bodies we are lost in illusion. In the moment of laughter or the silence between thought you are closer to true self.
I am not a religious person and abhor churches and the priest craft.
The path of self awareness does lead to knowing of some true facts and i found there is an inner world . It begins by being aware of the subleties of the moment, subleties many of us dont pay attention to. I had a teacher in the 70s who was for real. Best thing ever to happen.
You all probably think me a nut. I am.
If your playground operates in both the relative and quantum worlds then all the more fun for you merehuman.
Why remodel a home with a fatally compromised foundation? Why indeed.
Tip, I don't think these two perspectives are quite so far apart simply because a primary thrust of both is the degradation of broad societal standards, as you point out. For me at least what I am hearing here is a bit more of the deflate the blinding anger and inflate the awareness. Far from attempting to create an excuse for those that have massively violated the most basic of social covenants I hear that we all need to start owning up to crack this nut. Thoughts?
the combo of CogDis' excerpt above, CrabCake's comments below and the A.S. quote above pretty much sums up my thoughts, Miles, thanks for asking. as far as seeking justice, i choose to agree with Jesse that it is only when it is gained can there be a turning of the corner without disintegration of the social fabric, if only to reveal the underlying repercussions of that behavior, rather than implicitly condoning it to the collective as kosher.
however, when the facts required to achieve our traditional notions of justice will expose the rot that exists within the corridors of the State that is being protrayed as a 'shining beacon on the hill' by those who hold the reins of Justice for their own selfish addictions, then maybe just maybe, justice must be accepted in the form of revelation without being attached to the outcome of that revelation and let the universe deal with the rest.
quite a conundrum we're in that's for sure.
Thanks tip. I am sure you know my views on our justice system. I think that one of the sources of fuel is that the current social fabric is already being sundered, seriously sundered and that this process is exposing the underlying rot, among many other things. If we were not already noticing the general decline and those that steadfastly refuse to decline we would not be having this conversation. While I choose to despise the actions of those that have so destroyed our social fabric for their own selfish purposes I cannot bring myself to hate them because I may well might have followed their pathway had it been the path I had chosen to follow having done a fair bit of the scandalous myself.
It seems that what we are waiting for is more members of our society to comprehend that our justice & economic systems are structured to be incapable of providing anything but abject failure and with that failure, instability. I suspect that whatever benefits this current system provides, justice will rarely be among them. Which is why it is more important than ever that people of goodwill must stand and stand together whenever practicable and stop shitting our bathwater.
As to the process of a revelation premised relief the key will rest in the whole of society going through the process. I believe this simply because it is nearly impossible to identify the floating crap until we recognize the crap floating in our own bathtubs. Once that recognition process is rolling it will be nearly impossible to engage in a partial revelation process and short circuit this potentially vital aspect of healing. Healing that can work to mend the rends as the general populace will then be able to see & smell the unowned crap with the transparency of unshielded senses. Wanna bet a buck?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gekaEzqj5g
Peace.
you're on
From my article.
"I’m not trying to divert attention from the sociopaths; I’m saying the sociopaths are home grown. We can do all the weed pulling we feel is needed and more will grow unless we go after the roots. And the roots are within."
The essence of justice and the conduct it attempts, or supposedly attempts to regulate within a self governing society. The Quakers first developed the concept of fostering awareness of this process through the introduction of a place where folks who had succumbed would go and learn penitence. We call these places Penitentiaries today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
I am sure we can do better.
Speak for yourself. This is simply not true, but it as convenient excuse for those who are to continue doing what their doing with having to feel any guilt or remorse about it.
It's the system named Capitalism that was established by crooks for crooks that is the problem. If you want to survive in it, i.e. not being eliminated from it, you must behave at least partly as a crook (usually I use the word psychopath) without actually being one. This is what makes most people sick and others can't do it at all.
Most people do like to socialise and to fit in. This means that if you change the economic system than they will adapt, especially if it's one that is more socially oriented.
although i still flirt with the ideals of socialism in the abstract sense, the problem i personally have with its practical application is that it always seems to be most highly advocated by those who think their shit don't stink.
Thank you CD.
You always have something to say that touches on the spiritual.
I have little to do with money - the only rule I know about it is:
"There is never enough"
Live simply so that others may simply live.
Next DOW key resistance is 11,250/300
If that level is penetrated next target is 11,900
MARKET UPDATES:
http://www.zerohedge.com/forum/latest-market-outlook-0
CD, thanks for your post.
One can either say that there is growth or not.
If there is no growth, there are no others, and we just oscillate between knowing and ignorance for our own entertainment.
If there is growth, there are others with differing experience levels, and differing masteries. Maybe, jokingly, we have come to this PvP arena to talk some smack and kick some tail. Maybe, also jokingly, we have come here to learn for others who have been for so long, the learned if you will or the masters of certain domains.
Of course, that's a paradox or riddle. Which way is "right?" The answer is whatever you want the universe to be, it is for you.
CD,
As always, thank you for another view of our current condition (although it appears to be ingrained in the human condition).
The benefit of such posts may give those willing to listen and to "test their intuitions" the potential to change some things up for themselves. If just one person does better just ONCE, might that not be an improvement?
Thank you for providing the resources and time to shed some light on the human factors that contribute to any of our current state of affairs.
"If just one person does better just ONCE, might that not be an improvement?"
An unqualified absolute YES.
While I'm very worried about the corruption, lying and thieveing by the leadership, what really concerns me most is the creeping rationalization I'm beginning to see among middle class Jane and Joe. When people no longer believe they live in a reasonably fair system, many begin to think "what the hell, I'll take my share before it's all gone". At that point, the exponential acceleration begins.
When reached, I would call that point a failed state. I'm trying in the only way I know to do my part to convince people not only that it's not worth it but how to recognize it. We must not sink to the deepening depths of the professional criminal class.
I'm a bit disappointed in you CD. You are blame-shifting here, in a subtle, gentle fashion but still the core of your thesis is blaming the victims, making them responsible for events that were staged to create wealth for a few.
We are experiencing a man-made Katrina, and while some of the victims acted poorly in their day of distress, others stepped up. I remember distinctly a teenager named "Jamal" who stole a school bus, what was cool about that is that he loaded whoever he could find into the bus and drove them to safety. Was he a thief? Yes. Was he wrong? No.
Piss on your blame game masquerading as concern, people are having to do what they have to do in this environment. Leadership still matters, when order is restored and the people are out of the dome, maybe we can look to them for rational behaviour, in the meantime, let the chips fall where they may.
"I’m not trying to divert attention from the sociopaths; I’m saying the sociopaths are home grown. We can do all the weed pulling we feel is needed and more will grow unless we go after the roots. And the roots are within."
I reckon that failed state is sneaking up on us then! As an avid subscriber to The Privateer, I pondered this from the last issue:
I sent a personal email to Bill Buckler asking about how I would handle the upcoming receipt of social security payments from ole Uncle Sam. His email reply stated, succinctly, that accepting a balance equaling what I had paid in would fit the formula. After that -- I am on my own! In the long run, "public education" notwithstanding, are we not always on our own?
What I paid in, plus some interest, adjusted for inflation. Then we could agree.
Be careful. After those calculations I might be inclined to include pain and suffering adjustments!
Sun shined all day. Free warmth, lots of light , barking dogs and smiles all around. Springs colors abound and newly planted seeds are showing promise.
Have a happy day.
"I'll have what he's having."
We're having lots of that where I live as well. Good to see you.
CD, as usual, really cool stuff. I will only ask this... will anyone have a choice? If what we all talk about on ZH is going to happen in our country...heck, the world, the balance of powers and the set of priorities people have are about to change big time. It's like the feeling we (US citizens) all had after 9-11.... people came together in the face of calamity and genuinely wanted to help each other and be there for one another. That gave me hope... despite how fleeting that moment was. Dark times force people to come together....if for any other reason pure survival. The problem is excess.... it spawns bad behavior. It will end soon and we will then find out if we can come together or be destroyed.
AEYE,
I have no idea where you live. But you are asking questions such as "what if the 'what' we all talk about on zh..." comes to pass.
You must prepare. The post-911 feeling is how we are going to feel for a very long time. If you do not live in the US midwest, try to find people who can do basic things, such as grow, build, heal, and help you legally. Any service that does not provide absolute value will be deemed of no value. Protect your family, but recognize and help those around you who are in need.
"Grant me the ability and desire to pursue that whch is honest and just; and the courage to determine that which is not."
Best,
Josh
The lie, cheat & steal aspects of human nature are the precise elements used to perpetuate what I call the window dressing world. This window dressed world derives much of its juice from the ability to manipulate or bully folks with their dirty little secrets. Once someone owns all the way up to their "shortcomings" it becomes nearly impossible to manipulate them. The more folks that attain this measure of freedom the greater the problems for the bully's to maintain their hold over that particular segment of society. Be it a family, community, office or profession. Returning to your previous post CD, it is this very process one to another that creates the "fingers of instability" while also serving to transfer the energy from the mortar rounds into greater numbers of folks who not only free themselves, but bind themselves to other free folks. The velocity of money concept in human interaction. This process renders the efforts of firing mortar rounds ineffective as the only energy that is dissipated is that being provided by those who wish to remain subservient to the Ponzi itself. Another in a series of great reads. Thanx!
Screen Some Rot!
"Once someone owns all the way up to their "shortcomings" it becomes nearly impossible to manipulate them."
maybe the only buffer against exploitation we have at our ultimate disposal. your comment reminds of the mark twain story "the man that corrupted hadleyburg" that some anonymous generous space monkey encouraged me to read here several months back.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Mark_Twain/The_Man_that_Corrupted_Hadleyb...
wise man that mr. twain.
The financial evils that have afflicted us is largely due to the introduction of dishonest money. This has led to an economic and political system I refer to as corruptivism. Only the institution of an honest money system, such as the use of metals, or receipts for storage of metals (fully exchangeable for metals), will be satisfactory to enable a rebirth of a more ethical society.
A bit too mushy here CD. We may all have a little larceny in us, but daylight robbery takes a special talent. Daylight robbery while telling your victim it is their fault for providing you the opportunity to rip them off, is a very special talent indeed.
Of course the scammers on Wall Street convince themselves, that everyone else would do the very same thing, if they were presented the same opportunity. But the reality is some folk have made fortunes by ripping off their fellow citizens.
Behind every great fortune, indeed, is a great crime.
When they have their severed heads pulled out of the wicker basket, to look back on the bloody stump of their neck, they will then know there has been a change in power. And only then.
Assigning culpability onto everyone else is thin gruel for an intellectual exercise. But thanks anyway.