Human Nature — Exhibit A

There is nothing humans can not fuck up. Nothing. They could fuck up a wet dream. Their hosedness is boundless.

You can easily imagine that they don't much like hearing that about themselves.

See Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs And Steel: The Fates Of Human Societies. In particular, look at chapter 14, entitled From Egalitarianism To Kleptocracy.

I give you Exhibit A.

After a yearlong investigation, the Justice Department said Thursday that it won't bring charges against Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or any of its employees for financial fraud related to the mortgage crisis.

In a statement, the Justice Department said "the burden of proof" couldn't be met to prosecute Goldman criminally based on claims made in an extensive report prepared by a U.S. Senate panel that investigated the financial crisis.

"Based on the law and evidence as they exist at this time, there is not a viable basis to bring a criminal prosecution with respect to Goldman Sachs or its employees in regard to the allegations set forth in the report," the statement read.

The Justice Department reserved the right to bring charges in the future if new evidence emerges.

In a statement Thursday, Goldman said: "We are pleased that this matter is behind us."

I rest my case.

Bonus Video — U2, In God's Country

 

Comments

[Wanooski]

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your country can do for the multinational corporations that own all the capital.

[Ben]

The Justice Department had this one served up on a platter for them, and, as you point out, they still messed up. Sigh. I wish the Lakers' front office was as incompetent as the Justice Department, but nooooo, they pulled off a crazy 4-way-trade deal bringing Dwight fucking Howard to Los Angeles.

[Ben]

@ Wanooski

Network immediately came to mind after I read your comment. More specifically the speech Arthur Jensen gave Mr. Beale: We no longer live in a world of nations and ideologies, Mr. Beale. The world is a college of corporations, inexorably determined by the immutable by-laws of business. The world is a business, Mr. Beale! - Arthur Jensen

[T E CHo]

Our most important fear is insufficient fear itself.

(Ex. maybe with more motivation, some individuals may act to be better prepared, mitigate their own coming disasters better, think more clearly, etc.)

[Wishy Washy]

Too bad Mr. Lawsky with the NY Financial Services Department was not around back then to at least put on Goldman through a show trial like he is doing right now with Standard Charter. At least Lawsky's making an effort to APPEAR to be doing something, even if nothing meaningful comes out of it.