When Goldman Sachs Invokes Divine Purpose

Lately Goldman Sachs (GS) executives have been invoking God and Jesus in trying to justify their obscene profits. It shows a total disconnect between Goldman and the real world. They are actually fulfilling the classic stereotype of the megalomaniacal Wall Street banker. This is their “Marie Antoinette” moment.

The injunction of Jesus to love others as ourselves is a recognition of self-interest,

Goldman’s Griffiths said Oct. 20, his voice echoing around the gold-mosaic walls of St. Paul’s Cathedral, whose 365-feet-high dome towers over the City, London’s financial district.

We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieving greater prosperity and opportunity for all.

Profit ‘Is Not Satanic,’ Barclays CEO Varley Says Simon Clark and Caroline Binham, Bloomberg November 4, 2009

So, it’s business as usual, then, regardless of whether it makes most people howl at the moon with rage? Goldman Sachs, this pillar of the free market, breeder of super-citizens, object of envy and awe will go on raking it in, getting richer than God? An impish grin spreads across Blankfein’s face. Call him a fat cat who mocks the public. Call him wicked. Call him what you will. He is, he says, just a banker “doing God’s work”

I’m doing ‘God’s work’. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs John Arlidge, The Sunday Times November 8, 2009

What is particularly creepy about these episodes is that these are deliberate attempts by Goldman Sachs to improve their image. These executives are preaching in churches and giving public interviews as part of a public relations offensive designed to quell public anger prior to paying out their obscene bonuses. The fact that these executives cannot avoid twisting scripture and coming across as megalomaniacs is particularly telling.

Update: Matt Taibbi could not pass up a chance to take the Vampire Squid to task for claiming Christ-likeness.

Update: Lloyd Blankfein says he was a victim. He was making a joke and didn’t mean to say what he was quoted as saying.

Comments

[castle:]

This article has no value. A simple waste of time to read as well as write

Nov 15 06:38 AM