Should the robber barons be doing hard time?

[blondeatlast]

Feel free to comment.

[The Magistrate]

1. Hell Yes, Ma'am

Not worth the cost of a bullet, the lot of them....

[Catherina]

15. I'd gladly pay for the bullet. It's cheaper than feeding and housing them. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

2. Yes, and all their family assets seized.

[Donnachaidh]

3. It would be a VERY quick way of getting the middle class engaged again

So many years of wealthy people being handled with kid gloves by our government has really put off the general public. They (rightly) feel there is two forms of justice in this country.

Perp walks are very MUCH needed in this country.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Of course. Like Madoff. (nt)

[rurallib]

5. I am predicting a unanimous decision.

[blondeatlast]

7. I'm hoping the fines/minis will explain themselves. Mostly I hope you are right. nt

[arbusto_baboso]

6. Other. They should be taking dirt naps, courtesy of Lady Guillotine.

I jest, of course. I don't favor capital punishment, even for those as low as robber barons.

But bloody daydreams aren't illegal.


Yet.

[Angry Dragon]

10. The French Equalizer

[xchrom]

8. Just as important - they should lose their wealth.

No different than confiscating the gains of drug lords.

[blondeatlast]

9. +1. nt

[Greyhound]

11. Except we never do.

Michael Milken kept his ill-gotten gains and had a nice rest so he could write his book at taxpayer expense.

He is still one of the richest men on earth with a net worth of ~$2B. Hell of a penalty for stealing the futures of thousands, wasn't it?

[xchrom]

14. That's the point isn't it? That's how things have to change.

Just jail isn't/can't be enough when you're talking about that much money is at stake.

[Greyhound]

17. It is and it always has been.

But until a critical mass of people recognize that the only war that really exists is the class war, the best we can get is a little more gilding on our cages.
:kick:

[blondeatlast]

18. I think we're approaching that point--I think the subject of this thread

needs to take hold in the average American's mind.

The m$m isn't going to do it but the 'net and maybe at the water cooler...

[Starry Messenger]

29. He's also now involved in privitizing public education.

http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/technocapitalism/rehab

He was actually rather a pioneer in this. This was written in 1999.

In the 1980s Michael Milken was sent to prison for his illicit financial dealings - fraud and insider trading. However, even his legal activities in the junk bond market were destructive to companies, to retirees, and to the general public. He was a major factor in the Savings and Loan collapse that cost the public billions. He invented the junk bond market and promoted its use in hostile corporate takeovers that destroyed businesses, labor unions, and job security while enriching a tiny corporate elite. He promoted greed as a public virtue and still claims that his destructive profit-seeking behavior is the essence of democracy. Since his early release from prison, Milken has been building the first education conglomerate, Knowledge Universe, which is aimed at transforming public education into an investment opportunity for the wealthy by privatizing public schools, making kids into a captive audience for marketers, and redefining education as a corporate resource rather than a public good vital to the promotion of a democratic society.

Part of what is so disturbing about Milken's predatory move into education is that the popular press has hailed it as redemption for a man with a tainted history. In reality, Milken's predatory financial activities, which bilked the public of billions while making him a billionaire, are continuing in education.

In his defense of privatization, Milken is suggesting that he is helping children, giving them opportunities within a corporate future where the competition will make it increasingly difficult for them to participate in the economy:

Education must address individual needs. Rapid corporate evolution and frequent restructuring - including downsizing, rightsizing and outsourcing - mean an employee can no longer rely upon a "job for life." We believe that those who have the ability to learn and apply new skills are most likely to achieve career success and personal fulfillment.
- Milken's "Knowledge Universe Vison Statement"

Corporate culture claims to solve the problems of schooling by remaking the school in the image of the corporation. What Milken is not saying is that he himself is actively sponsoring and building that cutthroat future with no job security, low pay, and exploitative work conditions. What is in fact a hostile takeover of education as a vital public good is being sold to the public as philanthropy.

[Greyhound]

32. For what we didn't take back from him we could have built a 60 GW

solar/thermal generator, fixed 700 schools, given 40,000 full scholarships, etc.

But no, letting a thief keep his loot was so much better...:sarcasm:

[blondeatlast]

34. I'd like to be surprised at that. Alas, I'm a realist.

:banghead:

[Scuba]

12. They could play checkers with the war criminals. Recommend they all be put in with the...

...general population.

You know, no extra perqs. Yeah, that's it.

[bemildred]

13. We need to send them a message. nt

[Cleita]

16. Criminal activity is criminal activity even if

it's white collar crime. Yes, throw them in the slammer, preferably one of the private ones they have been profiting from.

[Buns_of_Fire]

19. Of course. They should be locked up, forced to pay restitution, and flung in the general population.

Then, when they're paroled and rejoin honest society as productive members...

...we get to eat them.:mad:

[blondeatlast]

20. If they are what they eat...

Eeeuw.

[Vidar]

21. Hang ten or twenty thousand of them as an example for the rest

[Nye Bevan]

23. How about, put them on trial and send them to jail for a long time if they are convicted?

Like Bernie Madoff and Andy Fastow?

[Unvanguard]

22. If their conduct is illegal and punishable by imprisonment, yes.

Otherwise, no.

[pleah]

24. YES!

:)

[tridim]

25. I'd like JP Morgan locked up, but he's dead.

And apparently his rotton corporation can't be locked up.

[toddwv]

26. No, I propose a worse punishment.

Take all their assets, redistribute them to the people that they ripped off.

THEN, force them to work a full-time job with no benefits for minimum wage.

[Rex]

27. Should that actually be a question?

Faux News says NO.

[rucky]

28. Holder's getting to it.

Right after he takes care of the peace activists and pot smokers.

[HarveyDarkey]

30. Well, since the guillotine is no longer available

I guess that's our only option.

[blondeatlast]

31. Since I might just find the one thing that unifies DU--kick. nt

[mitchum]

33. Neither; dead men do no more mischief

[blondeatlast]

35. Could the lone "no" vote explain, please? nt

[onethatcares]

36. and not in club fed either.

maybe in SanQuentin or one of those max security prisons they show on reality teevee.

But it is never going to happen....................money doesn't talk it screams......

Good luck and Peace