Reply #1: in this case i don't blame the players, i blame the game [View All]

[Scriptor Ignotus]

if these CEOs, who we can assume to be somewhat financially savvy, sold their "overvalued" stocks then can we really call them criminals? The whole point of the stock market is to buy low and sell high, or in their case to sell personal stocks when they are overvalued. That's called "making a profit". CEOs or other insiders cannot and should not be chastised for that.

The rules of the game must be changed. Either by limiting CEO compensation to some multiple of the average worker or other means and altering the rules on when executives can exercise their stock options, we can limit the excesses we are seeing today. Seeing the CEO of Lehman Brothers pocket all that cash sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I can't really blame the guy for doing what is in his best financial interest. Capitalism works when the right incentives are in place and fails when they are not.

If you are posting from the WSWS I'm sure you'll disagree, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.