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Tony Blair: Don’t Hang Bankers
Mainstream economist Nouriel Roubini said recently:
Nobody has gone to jail since the financial crisis. The banks, they do things that are illegal and at best they slap on them a fine. If some people end up in jail, maybe that will teach a lesson to somebody. Or somebody hanging in the streets.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair – currently employed as a senior adviser to JP Morgan – said today:
We must not start thinking that society will be better off “if we hang 20 bankers at the end of the street” ….
Where’s all of this coming from?
The American government’s top official in charge of the bank bailouts writes:
Americans should lose faith in their government. They should deplore the captured politicians and regulators who distributed tax dollars to the banks without insisting that they be accountable. The American people should be revolted by a financial system that rewards failure and protects those who drove it to the point of collapse and will undoubtedly do so again.
Only with this appropriate and justified rage can we hope for the type of reform that will one day break our system free from the corrupting grasp of the megabanks.
Economics professor Randall Wray writes today:
Thieves … took over the whole economy and the political system lock, stock, and barrel. They didn’t just blow up finance, they oversaw the swiftest transfer of wealth to the very top the world has ever seen. They screwed workers out of their jobs, they screwed homeowners out of their houses, they screwed retirees out of their pensions, and they screwed municipalities out of their revenues and assets.
Financiers are forcing schools, parks, pools, fire departments, senior citizen centers, and libraries to shut down. They are forcing national governments to auction off their cultural heritage to the highest bidder. Everything must go in firesales at prices rigged by twenty-something traders at the biggest and most corrupt institutions the world has ever known.
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I see two scenarios playing out. In the first, we allow Wall Street to carry on its merry way, as the foreclosure crisis continues and Wall Street steals all homes, packaging them into bundles to be sold for pennies on the dollar to hedge funds. All wealth will be redistributed to the top 1% who will become modern day feudal lords with the other 99% living at their pleasure on huge feudal estates.
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That is the default scenario—the outcome that will emerge in the absence of action.
In the second, the 99% occupy, shut down, and obliterate Wall Street.
Economics professor Michael Hudson agrees … saying that the banks are trying to make us all serfs.
Top economists say that fraud caused the Great Depression and the current financial crisis, and that the economy will never recover until fraud is prosecuted.
Leading experts say that fraud is not only widespread, it is actually the business model adopted by the giant banks. See this, this, this, this, this and this.
Indeed, the big banks – with the help of the government – have basically become criminal enterprises. And yet the Bush and Obama administrations have made it official policy not to prosecute fraud.
Economics professor Steve Keen says:
“This is the biggest transfer of wealth in history”, as the giant banks have handed their toxic debts from fraudulent activities to the countries and their people.
Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz said in 2009 that Geithner’s toxic asset plan “amounts to robbery of the American people”.
That’s why people are so mad at bankers.
I noted 7 years ago:
I am NOT calling for the overthrow of the government. In fact, I am calling for the reinstatement of our government. I am calling for an end to lawless dictatorship and a return to the rule of law. Rather than trying to subvert the constitution, I am calling for its enforcement.
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The best way to avoid all types of revolution would be for the government to start following the rule of law. I passionately hope it will do so.
The fact that even Tony Blair and Nouriel Roubini are talking about hanging bankers shows that this is the last chance for the justice system – the only thing which stands between criminals on Wall Street and pitchforks – to work.
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I would really like to know why my comment was junked. Am I to presume that there are people who believe there are no decent bankers. If that is the reason for the junking don't bother replying. Clearly your position is extreme.
There are a lot of people who work for small, local community banks and credit unions. Their institutions had nothing to do with the manipulative derivatives mess. There are also those who even work for the big banks (everyday Joes and Janes) and they have no real idea of how the banking system works (or even what money really is).
I'm sure the vast majority of ZHers know what is actually meant by 'banker'.
Well, just put his name out there, stand shoulder to shoulder, I'm sure he'll be fine. People are pretty good at knowing who has screwed them and how.
An honest banker, kind of an oxymoron. I don't hear too many out there exposing their bretheren and they WOULD KNOW.
20 bankers would only be a good start.
How many lamp posts are left for captured politicians?
America is a big country with a shitpot full of lampposts. We not only have enough for the politicians, we have enough left over for each and every government bureaucrat. If we run out of traditional rope, we always have paracord and piano wire.
A lot!
Good idea.
Note to self: Go long lamp posts and rope.
Once they are hung they should not be forgotten. Diseases and illnesses should be given the name of one of these people. For example Ahlzeimers could be renamed Corzine's Disease. I am sure you will figure out the rest.
Tired of the steady drip, drip, drip, of Kissinger-rhea?
Find those WMDs yet Tony. Fucking cunt.
Re We must not start thinking that society will be better off “if we hang 20 bankers at the end of the street” …. Tony Blair
Hate to be the "bearer of bad news" Tony - you snivelling, toady, sychophant - but the reason for the 20 bankers is to keep you company.... 10 on either side. Have a Nice Day
He's correct..
Society will be better off if you hang ALL of the bankers at the end of the street.
Along with politicians. Do not forget the politicians, they started this not the bankers. Banks simply employed the people that were willing to play the casino the politicians set up. Who pressured Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac to underwrite crap, because "all Americans are entitled to home ownership"? Who looked the other way and allowed interest rates to be cut when they should have been rising? Blair belongs to the generation of politicians that rigged the system, and condemned future generations to hell, just to get their worthless asses reelected. Hanging is too good for him and that other guy Bill something.
Bankers, Politicians, Lawyers, Bureaucrats, Media Execs......
Certainly not on my street Tony...their stench would be awful.
I must say I agree 20 is at least several hundred thousand too low.
"Why Is Everyone Suddenly Talking about Hanging Bankers?"
OK GW good question, but better:
How did we give our power away?
What have we gained in exchange for our freedom/liberties?
best:
What process in human consciousness transforms a helpless, powerless individual into a balanced, conscious, powerful one?
Full cognitive awaress of the facts; all the facts
and
reason / common sense aka humanity
You can't get much better than John Browning's design.
A .45 ACP is a miraculous consciousness raiser. Works every time.
I'm partial to Sam Colts model, but a single action is not for beginners.
What process in human consciousness transforms a helpless, powerless individual into a balanced, conscious, powerful one?
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A return to individual property rights and a redeemable money mechanism that gives people the power to control government-
Justice,would might help a lot,not law,but pure simpel justice!
That's what I'm talking about, Wakanda! Keep going, sir!
Got your back.
And of course Blair advises JP Morgan to rake in the big bucks...Wow Wow...
When the rows of piked heads are 100 wide and 20 deep with bankers and politicians The scales of justice might begin to move from the presently slammed position.
In otherwards it will be a good start.
Tony can reserve his position now if he would like.
As much as I despise Blair he has a point, don't hunt down elusive bankers to hang.
Simply go for the corrupt politicians like the messiah himself.
Once enough of them hang from trees the rest will quickly realise who they really need to look out for.
In both meanings of the phrase.....
Why let the corruptors off the hook and punish only the corrupted? That's like saying we should let the Mob go, and only arrest the crooked cops.
Honest\frightened for their lives politicians will deal with the bankers well enough
and I see I have a solitary red, is that you Tony?
welcome to ZH! we've been waiting for you........
Wait a minute. I thought WE were the mob.
Hang the Greeks for starting this mess....oh wait...
Cant do,they kill them self!
By the way Nick, did you hear about Jimmy? Well, Jimmy cracks corn and I don't care.
You know why I don't care, Nick? Because that's Jimmy f***ing business, that's why.
If things don't work out with the government, I am willing to donate 150 feet of 1/2 inch anchor rope (very strong) for
a good cause. Especially since I sold my boat 4 years ago. And Nick, the Greeks are not the cause of the financial crisis,
only the canaries in the mine shaft.
As a Brit, I can say that whilst I certainly hate banksters, I'd MUCH rather see Tony Blair hanging from a lamp post.
Who would come to their rescue?
All of the forces of Government that are complicit or unable to resist direct orders.
Come on, I won't hang any bankster, I promise. I prefer the scaffold, and yes, involved politicians will fit in there also.
Law replaced Reason
Power replaced Law
Ethics must replace Power
Reason must replace Justice
Tony Blair is overdue to meet Justice.
I downvoted you originally, here's why:
What Reason was replaced with is Education.
Vengeance replaced Laws.
Power can be replaced only with more power, otherwise it won't move.
In other words, we have vengeance distribution system instead of justice, education instead of learning and authority instead of thinking.
Then I undid my downvote, because downvoting is a very Status Quo-ish device (something to temporarily satisfy rage, stupidity and envy) while I don't want to be have anything to do with it.
Keep up the good clear thinking.
You get my upvote.
However, we may well have to keep them locked up so the mob doesn't get them.
Maybe you should go sit down in the corner on a soft pillow with a cup of tea and get in touch with your feelings...
The legal system is corrupt. Lawyers take money to defend the powerful and rob their clients who have no money in many ways, but sheriff sales a picked clean by attorneys, so how can a corrupt system provide the people justice against the powerful bankers?
Superman was a myth.
Blair is also part of the TENEO group. That's right, the same on retention firm headed up with his partner Mr. Clinton who the honorable Mr. Corzine had been making monthly payments to prior to MFGlobal going belly up. These folks are at least as good as GS at deflecting the focus of the masses.
Pathetic excuses for humanity imho.
Publish the names of the bankers, the names of their spouses. the names of their kids.
Publish their home addresses, their license plate numbers, the addresses of their kids' private schools.
They surveil us, so we surveil them. Come what may.
Right on!
Well I imagine the British Bankers' Association is looking for a new Chief. Sure beats "Palestine."
Hang Tony Blair as well.
+1 That's better.
There is plenty of rope to go around.
I propose Guantanamo Bay for the bankers who are guilty of mid range offences and for the real fiends I propose that they be sent to Abu Ghraib prison where Iraqis can use them to re enact some of the less fortunate incidents that took place there.
They must however be joined by those in government who enabled the dismantling of legislation and by the regulatory authorities who couldn't see that bank robbers have morphed into bankers.
A better solution:
First, place them all under arrest on "Indefinite Investigative Detention" - next, move them all to Guantanamo for questioning, and house them at Camp Xray - that's the open-air dog cages.
Trials not by "No-Justice system" but by special tribunal...
Make it clear that a 90%+ conviction rate is expected...
Finally, impose Sharia law .... televised Beheadings in Zucotti Park and on The Embankment...
Not enough trees and lampposts in The City and on Fraud Street
There is no need to be so dramatic or to find that much rope; there are plenty of high-rise windows they can be pushed out.