Let the Punishment Fit the Crime
Only in America!
That’s right, this is one of the few places in the world where you get rewarded for being irresponsible and screwing over thousands of people. It was reported on Nat Pub Radio today that the Treasury Secretary wants to take our 700 billion dollars & buy securities at a rate above their market value. That means that the people he’d be buying them from, who created this mess in the first place, would be making a profit on the sale!
And John McCain says he is uncomfortable with giving him access to all that money without oversight. Yeah, I’m uncomfortable too. When my clients tell me they can’t do something I usually describe a scenario to them that pushes them to reach for more that they thought was possible.
It usually goes something like, “OK, pretend Charles Manson is holding your child over the railing on the top of the Empire State Building. Let’s also pretend that the only way to save your child is to complete the amount of reps I just asked you to do… could you do it?” The answer is always, “of course!”
The scenario is ridiculous but the point is that even though it might have been difficult and took them totally out of their comfort zone, they could actually do what they were asked, given a powerful enough incentive.
The same is true and should be implemented, (FOR REAL) for people who are entrusted with positions of power that affect the public’s well being. McCain is advocating strict controls, oversight and regulation of the Treasury Secretary as he distributes our money. But that never works. It doesn’t work because the temptation for personal gain is always greater than the punishment for the act. That’s how we got into this mess. If you look through history, you’ll see it happens over and over again.
So let’s make it simple… DEATH! That’s right. You screw up and put yourself above the good of the public and you die. Not only that, but your immediate and extended family are also put to death. Your house and car(s) are given to the needy and all your liquid assets are distributed to the poor. No lawyers, no fanfare, no hype… just certain, swift and severe punishment.
It might be ridiculous, but don’t you think that might be enough incentive to keep people honest?
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