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HomeOscar Winner Charles Ferguson Rips Wall Street and Washington
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 28th, 2011 5:28 AM |
Charles Ferguson
“Forgive me, I must start by pointing out that three years after our horrific financial crisis caused by financial fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail, and that’s wrong.”
With those words last evening, Charles Ferguson, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary for his film Inside Job, did a lot more than merely begin an acceptance speech. Ferguson touched the third rail and made a political statement. But did he really? Really? Not in my opinion. Ferguson spoke the truth.
When did the mere voicing of the truth become political? Perhaps in America 2011 those who speak the truth actually stand out because we hear so little of the prized virtue. That reality is a sad commentary on our society.
I commend Ferguson. Backstage he had even more to say. (more…)
Is SEC Inspector General Kotz Investigating High Profile Washington Law Firm?
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 21st, 2010 2:04 PM |
America has learned all too well about the revolving door between financial regulators and financial firms along with their legal counterparts. While these revolving doors are not necessarily incestuous by themselves, the fact is the proximity of the relationships that develop has clearly led to an overall atmosphere filled with incest.
Has this incest crept into the corner offices of a high profile Washington D.C. based law firm? (more…)
I Come to Bury Judge Rakoff, Not to Praise Him
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 12th, 2010 9:11 AM |
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff
America loves a hero. Those who go boldly into the dark, defying death, and willing to sacrifice themselves for the well being of their brethren are truly special. Why are so many Americans enraged at the power structure in Washington? For the very simple reason that Americans see few – if any – heroes amongst our elected public servants.
Do we find any heroes on Wall Street? There are many great, heroic citizens in every line of work, including Wall Street, who work tirelessly to fend for their families. These people are heroes, but not on a national level.
Who are our national heroes at this time? Who is truly willing to call out the embedded incestuous power structure that has corrupted and continues to corrupt our society? I will nominate Simon Johnson and James Kwak, co-authors of 13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown, for serious consideration as national heroes. Why? Johnson and Kwak properly frame the critical debate facing America today. This debate focuses on the fact that the incestuous relationship between our political and financial forces is killing America. Unless and until that incestuous relationship is exposed and unwound, our nation faces grave threats. (more…)
Kanjorski and Ackerman Undress the SEC and SIPC
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 15th, 2009 2:47 PM |
Having written about the massive regulatory failures on Wall Street for the better part of 2009, I am heartened by the House Finance Sub-Committee on Capital Markets hearing last week. The bell that tolled in this hearing deserves to ring loud, long, and clear across our great land. The regulatory and insurance failures on Wall Street deserve to be exposed far beyond Sense on Cents.
Rackets operate best in the dark. Well, let’s get that flashlight out again!
For those unaware, SIPC (the Securities Investor Protection Corporation) is an insurance fund in which member firms pay premiums to cover losses. From SIPC’s own website, we learn:
What SIPC Covers . . . What it Does Not
The cash and securities – such as stocks and bonds – held by a customer at a financially troubled brokerage firm are protected by SIPC.
Among the investments that are ineligible for SIPC protection are commodity futures contracts and currency, as well as investment contracts (such as limited partnerships) and fixed annuity contracts that are not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933.
It is important to recognize that SIPC does not work the same way as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in terms of blanket protection of losses.
For this insurance coverage, SIPC charged its member firms an annual premium of $150 from 1996 until April 2009. That is no joke. Wall Street firms paid a token $150 a year to promote the idea that your investments were protected. While SIPC did have a $1 billion reserve fund, that was woefully insufficient to cover the losses incurred in the Madoff scam. Make no mistake, though, the SIPC annual premium of $150 should also be looked upon as a scam.
Think of it. Individuals pay far more for auto insurance than Goldman Sachs paid for investor insurance for over 12 years.
Are you getting increasingly pissed off? America should be extremely pissed off. The SIPC coverage has been a critical part of the Wall Street racket. (more…)
If My Aunt Had Balls, She’d Be Mary Schapiro
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 20th, 2010 7:04 PM |
“If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle!!”
I love that line. I first heard it on the trading desk at Bear Stearns in the early ’90s. For the last twenty years, I have used the line often to counter those who would bemoan an outcome with the standard, “If only . . .” My response typically generates a healthy chuckle and we then move on.
At this point, I feel comfortable amending the line from above to “If my aunt had balls, she’d be Mary Schapiro.” Too harsh, you say? I think not. How so? (more…)
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Posted in Bernie Madoff, General, Mary Schapiro | 5 Comments »