Why didn't anyone tell Bernie Madoff he was above the law?

[Generator]

You know, every now and then you get a crook that knows he's a crook. Nixon was a crook and when confronted he had the decency to step down. Now Bush is a criminal and yet he's practically a saint amongst Republicans. The message is clear, crime pays, and certain people are above the law.

Surely Bernie Madoff knew he was above the law? We all know his son ratted him out, but I still got the feeling he could have slid past by the law if he wanted to. In a way Bernie is being punished by society not for his crimes, but for being an honest crook. I guess the New York Times secured an interview with Bernie and he's saying, "the banks had to know". Of course they knew Bernie, they just thought you would keep the lie alive!

Aside from Bernie has anyone gone to jail over any of this financial horseshit? A few no names in the past few weeks, but thats about it. THIS IS A FUCKING OUTRAGE!!! This whole country has been shamed with greed, lies, and theft. No punishment whatsoever and it fucking stinks. This is the sort crap that can undermine a whole country. Where American business model is to completely ripoff some poor bastard of all his wealth and no one says damn thing.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/15/2011-02-15_wilpon_knew_zip__madoff.html

Lets just hope Wikileaks can set off this powder keg of lies off...

 

[wuliheron]

Nixon stepped down, but was never prosecuted for conspiracy or theft or anything. He was above the law, just not above public opinion and congressional disapproval. If he had stayed in office, he would have been censored or worse. If you or I did what he did at the very least we would get probation. He was, of course, given an immediate pardon by his running mate and successor vice president Ford (merely a formality mind you.)

Bush made sure during his time in office that federal oversight of the banking industry was a joke, which was partially responsible for the mess we're in now. The banks alone contribute 40% of the money for election campaigns in congress making them everyone's favorite friend. If you find all that unacceptable and outrageous I'm sorry, but I don't think writing a letter to your congressman will help.

There are countless other examples of wealthy people being above the law in the US including one rather infamous man in West Virginia. His company kept getting fined for illegally dumping toxic waste. The fines were small and it was still profitable for him, but he chose to instead buy a judge. Since again the judges run for their office there, all he had to do was legally contribute to the man's campaign. After that, not one single guilty verdict or fine. As everyone knows, it's best if you have pay someone to go directly to the source and cut out the middleman.

The opposite is also common enough in the US where the wealthy and powerful use the legal system to harass and punish the innocent, but that's another story.

 

[QuantumPion]

Liberals don't get prosecuted for having good intentions.

 

[CycloWizard]

The executive branch of our government is busy trying to create jobs and other such nonsense rather than doing its job. Actually enforcing the law is falling by the wayside.

 

[NoWhereM]

Nixon stepped down, but was never prosecuted for conspiracy or theft or anything. He was above the law, just not above public opinion and congressional disapproval. If he had stayed in office, he would have been censored or worse. If you or I did what he did at the very least we would get probation. He was, of course, given an immediate pardon by his running mate and successor vice president Ford (merely a formality mind you.)

Bush made sure during his time in office that federal oversight of the banking industry was a joke, which was partially responsible for the mess we're in now. The banks alone contribute 40% of the money for election campaigns in congress making them everyone's favorite friend. If you find all that unacceptable and outrageous I'm sorry, but I don't think writing a letter to your congressman will help.

There are countless other examples of wealthy people being above the law in the US including one rather infamous man in West Virginia. His company kept getting fined for illegally dumping toxic waste. The fines were small and it was still profitable for him, but he chose to instead buy a judge. Since again the judges run for their office there, all he had to do was legally contribute to the man's campaign. After that, not one single guilty verdict or fine. As everyone knows, it's best if you have pay someone to go directly to the source and cut out the middleman.

The opposite is also common enough in the US where the wealthy and powerful use the legal system to harass and punish the innocent, but that's another story.

My mind must be slipping, I seem to recall Nixon's running mate being Agnew, who coincidently also didn't do any jail time for the crimes he committed.

 

[wuliheron]

It was Agnew AND Ford. Google really is your friend, especially if your mind is going.

 

[NoWhereM]

It was Agnew AND Ford. Google really is your friend, especially if your mind is going.

Was trying to give you an out, Ford was not Nixon's running mate in either 1968 or 1972. Google is your friend.

 

[Zorkorist]

I don't know how you get from Madoff to Nixon, unless you want some Government to hold your hand and suck your dick.

If you were screwed by Madooff, shame on you.

Nixon, had nothing to do with it, I feel fairly certain.

-John

 

[dmcowen674]

The rich are above the law up until they piss off some other rich that can put the smack down on them.

Madoff pissed off a lot of rich people.

Had he just stuck with peons he would still be in his crooked business.

 

[IGBT]

go ask the SEC auditors who pencil whipped his operations "clean" for 10+ years. Why aren't they in the slam with madoff??

 

[QuantumPion]

Liberals are above the law up until they piss off some other liberals that can put the smack down on them.

Madoff pissed off a lot of rich people. But he wasn't a liberal.

Geithner, Holder, Rangle, Dodd, Toricelli, Clinton, Kennedy etc et al all get off scott free (for everything from tax evasion to manslaugter) while Scooter Libby gets jail time for a process crime.

Madoff's biggest mistake was not giving enough political contributions to liberal campaigns.

 

[QuantumPion]

go ask the SEC auditors who pencil whipped his operations "clean" for 10+ years. Why aren't they in the slam with madoff??

For the same reason why Charlie Rangle gets a mere censure for embezzling millions from the taxpayers while Scooter Libby gets jail time for not having a precise memory of a phone conversation from 2003.