Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job"

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

It's rare that one who is "well placed" is not of some position of material/resource advantage. The people in the ruling class in the Soviet Union had a significantly better standard of living (by their society's standards of the day) than the average Soviet citizen.

We seem to confuse hubris, arrogance and narcissism for leadership. We lack the ability to elect, select and promote & support those who are truly wise. Then we're surprised when we see such outrageous behavior.

To make matters worse, there are some rather clever minds amongst the Plutocracy who are smart enough to mobilize those who should be opposed to them, to actually do their bidding.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

We get the leadership we deserve. It's a cop-out to suggest that we "confuse" hubris or whatever, or that we "lack" the ability to do anything.

It's because we actually WANT these people.

Deal with it.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Really? I disagree that "confusion" is a cop out - it's an observation. I've seen first hand how business owners or executive level management confuse the attributes I've mentioned above with being a "go getter" - which leads to promoting those types of people. This in turn keeps the disfunctional culture in place.

I've come across many people climbing the ladder who are motivated by an insecurity about their shelf worth. As they climb higher, they find that the joy of reaching the next level/title/pay level quickly wears off. A vicious cycle which leads to having to continually "make it to the next level." I'm not saying this is everyone, but it's quite common in my experience (working within small businesses to Fortune 100 companies). I've also seen this behavior within my own family with those who are of significant means, but still feel that they don't have "enough" despite being in well within the multi-millionare 1% club.

In the dozens of organizations over the last 25 years it's rare that executive leadership is truly competent. Hence the reason why I don't just "deal with it". If I don't like it, I don't stick around - a strategy that's not an easy option for many, especially in this economy. That said, if more of us behaved in this manor, the world would look quite different. If an organization treats you badly (a symptom of poor leadership), they do not deserve your human capital.

I think more than people wanting such leadership, it's more accurate to say that it's tolerated. How many people do you know who love their boss or love the executive management where they work? It's similar to the phenomenon in politics where people who are discouraged with their party choose not to vote.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

H.L. Mencken said it best: "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

We get the leadership that we (collectively) deserve because we (collectively) sit back on our asses and do nothing to oppose the system that allows crooks to take over.

We don't want them. We "deserve" them only in the sense that we allow them to run roughshod over us.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

What I find highly amusing is that Americans whine about how "bad" their country and/or government and/or economic/social structure is, when they are among the distinct minority of the global population with the freedom to actually s*** or get off the pot

That is, Americans have the freedom to simply leave this country. Nobody with a machine gun will try to stop you

The borders exist to keep people out, and even at that they are rather porous.

Amazing how quickly we have forgotten images of East Geman citizens being shot and killed for trying to escape to the West, to escape the "workers paradise" of Communism

We not only have the right to whine about how "bad" things are, we can even do so in print, in forums such as this one. In many countries, if you dare suggest that women should have rights, or dare go against the "religion" of that country, you die

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Couldn't agree more.

"We" have made such a mess of things economically, that we are no longer seen by others within the G20 as the one's who know how to run an economy. Why? Because, due to various policies and lack of proper oversight, we drove ours off a cliff (economic "drunk driving?"). Then, because of lack of leadership on multiple levels are unable to take meaningful action to fix it. To complicate matters further, via Goldman Sachs/Wall Street, we have also had a hand in hurting other countries economies.

Jayman - I do agree w/your POV regarding whining and inaction on the part of our fellow citizens. I too dearly cherish the fact that we can freely have this type of discourse. You do have to remember that the reunification of Germany had it issues (which may still be going on now, but I can't comment because I'm not current on Germany's current situation) with inheriting a group of people conditioned to have the government take care of their basic needs. Many West Germans complained openly about the East German's lack of work ethic.

Regarding religious freedom, I cherish this too. That said, there are a good number people in high places that are working hard towards trying to make the US a strictly Christian nation. That wouldn't be so bad in itself if it wasn't coupled with the intolerant vitriol that often accompanies such an agenda.

I think that the origin of this thread points to a symptom of the larger picture of the decline of our country. America, "love it or leave it" is one valid POV. But given what we have to work with, I think one should try to affect change. Though I'm not aligned with the Tea Party, I think the Tea Party was very affective at raising issues important to them and thus having a measurable affect on the last election.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Agreed, but that is also a matter of "optics" both internally and externally

Externally Canada is praised for how well her banking system and economy are run. Internally the minority government is vilified in the media for the very same thing

What I like best about Canada is the Campaign Finance Reform pushed through in 2006/2007. Under Elections Canada regulations, it is now illegal for any political party to accept corporate or union donations. The maximum personal donation is $1,100 per tax year. Period.

Agreed

In the SE region of Manitoba a large number of former East German immigrants have moved. They felt uncomfortable with West Germans, and apparently that divide is still very pronounced.

Looks like that glorious socialist workers paradise didn't work out so well for them. It truly was a culture shock when mama Russia imploded and they were left like fish out of water, gasping.

Keep one thing in mind. Whether religious or political "freedom" what is "freedom" to one group is Oppression to another group.

In many parts of the world, this Oppression is carried to its logical conclusion. You are either for - or against - the mainstream whatever. If you are against, your life is short and painful

Whether at City Hall or the entire nation, there is strength in numbers. Why people can't figure this out is beyond me.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

some statsman somewhere said, Democracy can only last 200 yrs. before failure. Time is past and our system is failing

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

khrustev

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Not only that, but Americans have it better than 9/10 of the human race, and still complain!

"Economic drunk driving." VERY apt phrasing!

This is actually easier to understand: People do not see their interests as congruent with those of their neighbors. They think their fellow citizen is their enemy because he goes to a different church, or his skin is a different color, or he speaks a different language, or he votes for the other party.

Even though they are all being oppressed by the same ruling elite, they have very different opinions about how to change things, and so they are constantly at each other's throats. The ruling class is very adept at "divide and conquer."

The IWW tried to unite all the workers. They were beaten, murdered, intimidated; and the workers they tried to unite were fed propaganda by the media and taught to hate each other for their differences. I don't know whether an IWW victory would have made the world a better place. (I'm inclined to think it would have, but we'll never know.) I cite them to show why "people can't figure out" that there is strength in numbers. The folks in charge have too many resources, and too much skill at manipulating the crowd.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Do you perhaps mean Nikita Khrushchev?

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

True that. Even though we're rapidly becoming a third-world country, it's still probably the best system out there. Which isn't to say it's a good system (it's not), but that the others out there are even more horrid.

Of course, it doesn't help that the poor and lower middle class keep voting against their self-interest. Long-term self interest vs. bright, shiny thing? We know who wins THAT one ever time!

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

yea, didn't have time to look up the spelling, thanks!

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

Again, it points back to leadership. When the executive leadership is obsessed by short interest gain for themselves, what gives the others below them the incentive to "do the right thing" or take equitable action? Leaders set the tone.

Ironically the 1% who are driving most of the political agenda actually are hurting themselves in the long run as the middle class continues to shrink. Our consumer lead economy needs income to flow to the middle class in order to drive and sustain consumption.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

This dates me, but I REMEMBER the spelling from when he was Russia's top dog. Back when schools actually tried to teach stuff, we had to read the newspaper and report on an item of current events from time to time.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

i hear you. didn't he say something like "we will destroy america from within"? maybe he was thinking agw or peak oil.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

This latest article in Rolling Stone

Matt Taibbi: Courts Helping Banks Screw Over Homeowners | Rolling Stone Politics

and the documentary "Inside Job", as well as countless other accounts of our financial debacle, out of which there has not been a single criminal investigation brought by either state or federal Attys General (let alone anyone arrested), puts proof to the fact that beyond some threshold of wealth, you can act with complete impunity. This will be recorded as both the greatest mass swindle in the history of mankind and the greatest swindle to go unpenalized.

 

Re: Rich Vail Fund Manager Hits Cyclist And Runs, Gets Off Because Charges Might "Jeopardize His Job

madoff