Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Good Death

Charles Grassley seems to have confused some folks with this comment: 
"The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they'd follow the Japanese model and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things -- resign, or go commit suicide,'' Grassley (R-Iowa) said on an Iowa radio station, WMT, a clip repeated on a Washington news station, WTOP.
Fat chance! This ain't Japan, buddy. Americans - especially obscenely rich Americans who destroy their companies, but demand their bonuses because "there's a contract" - lack the sense of shame and honor that underlies the "Japanese model." (do they teach that in Japanese business schools?)

It's a rare moment when a rich or powerful American businessman takes responsibility for their crimes. The only one in recent years that I can think of was Martha Stewart, who packed up and went to jail like a man, rather than hide behind her appellate lawyer like most white collar defendants. 

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