Fear & Consequences

We are governed by self-serving individuals who do not see any negative recourse .

If one’s mission is to get re-elected, then one will accept campaign contributions and in return lean towards favorable legislation.

If one expects to land a high paying job in the banking sector after “paying your dues” in public service, then one will tend to be more receptive to banking industry concerns when drafting regulations.

Humans have a strong ability to rationalize in order to justify their actions. Thus these individuals truly do not think that their actions are wrong.

There is always some degree of rationale that can be made for any position on legislation and regulations. Government leaders will simply most often side with the rational that serves the bank’s and thus their own best interests. The banksters are clever enough to understand how the human psyche works and how to play it to achieve their objectives.

We will not get good governance until these circumstances are changed or until fear of consequences over takes self-serving interests.

How can circumstances change? Real campaign reform. Ban governmental employees from accepting positions in private sector firms that they governed over.

How can fear of consequences change behavior? Threaten to vote out all incumbents. Vote for candidates who pledge that they will fire corrupt and self-serving government officials. Let your representative in Congress understand how strongly you feel about this.

During the campaign Obama acted like a statesman. In office though, every indication is that he shares these same self-interest obsessions which may be one reason why the young have become less enthused with him. We really need a leader today who will take the nation’s interests to heart first. I hope Obama will come around, but I do not expect it.

It might be that the government-banking co-dependency is much like an individual who suffers from an addiction. That individual has to hit rock bottom in his life before he is willing to change his behavior. In the present instance, it is likely that our economy will have to hit rock bottom before we are willing to demand the changes in Washington and the banking sector that are needed. If so, it will not be pretty.