linecrosser's Blog

        Two stories in the news caught my attention partly because of their similarity and their differences.


First Story:
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080716/bs_nm/samsun
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Second Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080716/ap_on_bi_ge/p
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        The great thing about both of these stories is, they are both white collar crimes that have been prosecuted and convictions won. That's the similarity. That's actually a great happening, I believe more stories like these two would garner a greater respect for the government, especially if trials where going after politicians, there would also be a increase in viewers of MSM news shows and readership of newspapers. All of these would lead to a greater sense, by the individual, that they were important and would naturally instill a greater pride with a corresponding  rise in hope and moral compass. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

      The differences, aside from being different countries, I know thats important, however, I don't see that as being as important as the victims. In S. Korea the victim was the government, and the criminal is described as a powerful businessman. Now since I believe world wide most politicians have been bought off by powerful businessmen. It was a friend being publicly humiliated in court. Hence the short jail sentence that was suspended. While the fine was high enough to discourage others from doing the same, it most likely didn't change his or his families way of life.  


      In the second story, Peralman is described as a swindler, making him a unsuccessful businessman. The victims in the second story are different also. Banks and investors. The investors I know nothing about, other than they had enough money to invest and they must have expected some sort of return. The banks on the other hand I know a little about, they print money when needed for loans. Most of the time it is done just by accounting in some ones account. Banking has become so profitable its shameful, all new money is created as someone's debt, the fractional reserve system doesn't require the money being lent out to actually be on deposit. Well not most of it anyway, a small fraction yes. but most of it if just created out of thin air and keystrokes on a computer. Blah, Blah Blah, Blah Blah. The banks own more politicians and powerful businessmen than governments hence the difference in the penalties. Twenty five years and a 300 million dollars fine. 

      A successful businessman vs the government, small penalty.      
      A unsuccessful swindler vs the banks, he'll die in jail and have no estate left to will to his heirs.  

      Lesson for me, the banks own the governments. 

   P.S. I tried a whole bunch of times to do the link button thing, couldn't get it right, maybe next time.