This is getting out of hand (was: Congress' reaction to AIG bonuses ...)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Unfortunately the only way to force the Hill to re-think the mess is  
to drum up the mob. Rational thinking runs into powerful lobbyists  
with lots of cash. How do you suggest we get even treatment.

Dave

ps BTW AGAIN the Unions at GM are pressured to accept wage and/or  
benefit cuts. Why should not Wall St?

Dave


Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: March 22, 2009 12:13:20 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: This is getting out of hand (was: Congress' reaction to AIG  
bonuses ...)


On 03/22 09:23, David Farber wrote:
> From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk () gsp org>
> Date: March 22, 2009 9:21:18 AM EDT
> Their "bonus" is that we've very generously -- so far -- allowed  
> them to
> keep breathing.  They should pray to their gods that we don't
> reconsider.

Dave, this is getting out of hand.  Rich's comment above turns my
stomach.  That kind of emotionalism at this stage is more toxic
and dangerous than any toxic assets could ever be.

In "Pitchforks or Pointed Ears -- vs. AIG" yesterday
( http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000524.html ), I suggested
that mob-based emotional reactions were now taking us down exactly
the wrong path.

But two days earlier, in an update to:
"Chilling Chaos in Congress Over AIG Bonuses"
( http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000523.html ), I added an
audio clip of that famous economist, Darth Vader, that seemed
relevant to the situation at hand.

I would urge the IP audience to compare Rich's comment above with
Darth's comment from the "Empire Strikes Back."  Just a fantasy movie
to be sure, but I'd rather channel Spock than Darth any day.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () vortex com
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
  - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, NNSquad
  - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition
  for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com




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