Three cheers for The Daily Star for not fully recognizing one of the most enormous pieces of political theater in recent memory in this country's history concerning the "grilling" of the investment firm Goldman Sachs by not putting the story on Page 1.
Both Fox News and CNN combined to make it the "cameo" that it was.
Republicans and Democrats banded together to show their might against the Wall Street giant; unfortunately, in doing so, they further proved that our government is run by big business and not the people.
Their "might" basically can only be compared to political grandstanding and plain-old name-calling.
It was political theater at its best, and Congress played its part well from both sides of the aisle.
As of this commentary, there is only one individual possibly facing charges for any wrongdoing by Goldman Sachs — he is the self-designated "Fabulous Fab," Fabrice Tourre.
The only reason he is being considered is because he was brazen enough to declare (as the collapse was happening), that "there will be only one person left standing in the end and it will be me."
This grand level piece of political theater is not the only example of our government, military and news media to happen within the past half a year.
Take, for example, the now-famous army psychiatrist in Texas, Maj. Nidal Malik.
It was reported by the Army and all media how this psychiatrist was to be deployed to Iraq.
The incredible shortage of military psychiatrists was at the heart of this matter. The military chain of command was constantly looking the other way while the red flags went up against this "doctor."
The news media missed the boat, portraying this so-called doctor as a doctor with a mental problem.
This Army-trained-and-educated psychiatrist realized he was going to be deployed, and the military and news media helped to paint a picture of someone with a mental condition unable to handle the thought of being deployed to the front lines.
His "jihad" — killing 12 soldiers and a civilian — was far easier right here on U.S. soil than in a foreign land surrounded by armed military personnel.
In the same surroundings in Iraq, this psychiatrist would have, maybe, killed a half-dozen military personnel or so before "getting one between the eyes" in an Army mess hall. Still, this story was reported by our news media exactly how the military wanted.
The news media and the military were collaborating without even trying. The only difference was the Army was covering up while the news media flat out blew it. There was no military trial for any Army officers in charge of overseeing this doctor. All the evidence was there, and repremands or charges never even came close to going up the chain of command. and a couple of slaps on the wrist were given to the wrong people.
That's how the system works, and most of us know that even without being former or active duty military personnel.
They reported him as a "casualty of war" because of his upcoming deployment. This Army-educated doctor was an Islamic extremist, period, nothing more, nothing less. The coverup that ensued only served to show off the dysfunctional military chain of command.
Theater was again in plain sight for all of us to see. Free of charge. Broadway can only pale in comparison.
Look at the times now. Our economy is faltering. Wall Street seems to be going (possibly) in the same direction that it was three years ago. Up and then down? Are the investment companies doing the same thing right now that they are being grilled for what they did three years ago? Could this theater be possible?
They are 10 times smarter and much more well versed than our Congress is in regard to the almighty dollar, and they will never be caught.
We can't even read our new health care bill let alone an investment firm's maze of wealth.
Our unemployment is 10 percent. The investment companies went into hibernation in the latter part of 2008 but amazingly are back now as the market grows adversely to the "average Joe." You could not possibly make this story up!
Entire non-third world countries like Greece are faltering. Is Portugal next? Who knows? Can this country actually change? Want to join a Tea Party near you? Go ahead, it can't hurt.
But there is one inherent problem — our system of government is absolutely disfunctional, yet informed people continue to back the "big business run" political parties.
The election cycle now begins after a president is in office two years. Congress continues to vote strictly along party lines so the other party cannot claim victory.
Votes are both bought and sold. Can a leader emerge among us that can actually change the ways of this nation? It's anyone's guess how far the Tea Party movement goes, but one thing is for sure: the bigger it gets in today's U.S. political society, the more dysfunctional it will become.
In the end it will be swallowed by the monetary might of one of the political parties. Right now that seems almost a lock to be the Republicans, and then they will decide its course. Once again turning a movement into theater.
Big business can run without a "physical address" in today's world. They can run but they can hide.
The U.S. can become a penny stock on China's stock market, but rest assured just as the Fabulous Fabrice eluded to in his e-mails, in the end big business and the Fabulous Fab of our country will be "the only one left standing."
William Crean is a retired federal employee living in Laurens.
Columns
U.S. lawmakers merely players in political theater
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
Ask any hospital administrators if they've ever heard of a closed hospital in New York state that has ever been re-opened. They will say, "Impossible." In a half century of going through records you can't find any.
Continued ... - Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
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My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Cary Brunswick
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
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- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
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We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
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- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
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- Mark Simonson
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Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
You know an issue is divisive when a vote to resolve it is quite close. In Oneonta during the early 1930s there were probably plenty of discussions or arguments at the family dinner table or sermons from the pulpits on Sunday mornings, regarding whether or should be able to see a movie in Oneonta on Sunday.
Continued ... - Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
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- Rick Brockway
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
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- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
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Using time off in the worst way possible
"You don't mean it," I pleaded. "You simply can't mean it!"
Continued ... - Terror lives on, and there's no end in sight
- Remembering the glory of their times
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- No one is coming to take your guns
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Using time off in the worst way possible
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
