Rich People - Bigger cheats, crooks?
 

A recent study found that 10 percent of people who work on Wall Street are “clinical psychopaths,” exhibiting a lack of interest in and empathy for others and an “unparalleled capacity for lying, fabrication, and manipulation.” (The proportion at large is 1 percent.) Another study concluded that the rich are more likely to lie, cheat and break the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/op...of-wealth.html

I'd like to say I'm surprised, but ...

"There are ethical corporations, yes, and ethical businesspeople, but ethics in capitalism is purely optional, purely extrinsic. To expect morality in the market is to commit a category error. Capitalist values are antithetical to Christian ones. (How the loudest Christians in our public life can also be the most bellicose proponents of an unbridled free market is a matter for their own consciences.) Capitalist values are also antithetical to democratic ones. Like Christian ethics, the principles of republican government require us to consider the interests of others. Capitalism, which entails the single-minded pursuit of profit, would have us believe that it’s every man for himself." from the article

Hmmm- social darwinism at it's worst. That article will have some free market advocates heads exploding, methinks.

BOOhOOooo, it's class warfare.... wahhhhhhhh. They'll cry.

First off;

Who cares? Let the stooges whine. Class warfare is necessary every now and then. When the rich folk start asking, "Why should I do it if there's no profit in it for me?"----It's time to show the selfish pricks a severed head or two. It's good for them, it makes them better people, they just refuse to face that fact.;)

Secondly,

Don't even get me started on the irony of attempting to mix rabid capitalism with Christianity. I guess you could say I'm a capitalist, sure. I have investments, and I've done a few mildly entrepeneurial things in my time But, that is the world I live in and what I must do to survive. I make no attempts to paint it as some great humanitarian endeavor, like I'm doing Gods work, when I wheel and deal to make a buck. I'm JUST making a buck, or two, and that's all.

Due to it's callous, remorseless, and manipulative behavior, I have long suspected my little dog of being a psychopath.

And my suspicions were confirmed last Saturday whenever it attempted to murder the neighbor's chicken.

Chas

Like anything in this article is a surprise?

Nope, unless you're an idiot. And we apparently have a lot of them, and they vote. I know this based on the following evidence;

1. We have more billionaires than anyone else and more than we've ever had in our history. But, the amount of (decent, high paying) domestic jobs created by them is inversely proportional. Which leads me to;

2. These people already find ways to avoid paying their taxes, in part or entirely. And, they have created a propaganda machine so effective that when someone suggests closing tax loopholes or raising their taxes, half of the country mobilizes to put a stop to it....Even if it means said mobilized dolts will end up paying more themselves.

3. Mitt Romney is running for President. And he very well might win, because some people think that a guy who has made his fortune firing people, liquidating businesses and outsourcing thousands of jobs cares about them and their future. Mind you, most of these folks, just a few months ago were praying somebody worth a damn would jump into the race......so they wouldn't have to support this waffling asshole.

Welcome to 21st Century America.

Not trying to disagree but this diagnosis is thrown around way too much and it is a damned serious disorder.

Check out these rich people cheating big time...
http://www.examiner.com/article/nbc-...or-kids-mexico

A few years back I read a great interview with a prosecutor, about how they study to be able to tell when someone's lying.

He mentioned that the great liars usually end up in positions of public trust.

Obama has received more contributions from Bain than Romney ;)

Pete

I think they should expand that study and check out members of the US House and Senate.

Almost all members of Congress are wealthy. If they aren't they will be. No need to waste the time or money for a study.

As simply as I can put it, I just don't think it's possible to become dirty, rotten, filthy, stinking rich without having had to squash your scruples a bit along the way.

Rich? Sure.

Big-time, fat cat, lighting Cohibas with $100 dollar bills rich? You HAD to do something dirty to get there: just like being President.

You are probably right.... But then, greedy people don't have a whole lot of scruples to squash to begin with.

Maybe that means they know something about your boy, that we don't?
Like, maybe he's such an ass that even his former colleauges don't want, or at least show a reluctance, to support him.

But, then, we've known that for a while, haven't?

Now this is actually interesting. This is the kinda thing that should have most everyone in Govt that knows this prosecuted and several hung from the gallows

When DSM V comes out everyone will have some sort of a psychological disorder. These so-called "studies" really don't mean much and lack any predictive value. Unfortunately, the press seems to enjoy giving credence to such pulp.

All aboard on the crazy train!!!

Chas

Chas, I had no idea that you were a closet Black Sabbath groupie. :D

Regards,

D-Ray

IRON MAN ROCKS! ASK HOW I KNOW! But it was on cd..... BUT IT STILL ROCKED! :D

Predictive value is meaningless in our new quasi science age. Does it fit the 'facts'? It must be correct!

Pete

We had cds in the early '70s?:confused: The first time I heard "Iron Man" it was on vinyl and played on a tube console......

How old are you, Man?

Dave

John Calvin and Predestination along with the Congregationalist Church in early colonial America sort of linked the idea that economic (material) well being on earth demonstrated a propensity to avoid the hellfire afterwards. Something like that.
Perhaps the angry white Tea Bagger is the modern day descendant of such thoughts, as well as of course their more wealthy comrades on Wall Street. A fairly modern and widespread American sort of belief in positive karma across many WASP classes.

It is all predestined of course.

So true, so bloody true.

I believe you're right.

How many times have you heard;

"It must be right, he made a lot of money off of it.":rolleyes:
(Or things along that line.)

Kind of reminds me of "Might makes right." One of the dumbest damn slogans ever. No, being mighty often just makes someone a BULLY. Stalin and Hitler were "mighty".........think about it.

Now that right there is just flat out funny. :D

I am very skeptical of the study also. I am not buying that more sociopaths work on Wall street than i n the general population. Do they often exhibit less empathy? That I would buy. That seems top be the "culture." very different from being flat out sociopathic.

Yes Blue Streak...however one has to look sort of at the postive benefits of the Protestant Work ethic...although that of course is sort of an insulting term to the non-Protestants who have made our nation great.

Of course...balance in all things. We need Bhunter's governmental elites to keep things in check...for the benefit of all of society.

What non Protestants? :p

Anyone ever score something at a garage sale or ebay at below what you knew was market value? Hitler.

Pete

Cause or effect? I wonder...

I knew a guy who grew up quite wealthy - his dining room table seated 32.

He told me that you know you have more to lose. Then he became a raging alc and lost it.

Pete

I see Bill Clinton told Obama to stop attacking Romney over Bain, that "I think he had a good business career," Clinton told guest host Harvey Weinstein, a movie mogul who is one of Obama's top fundraisers. "There's no question that in terms of getting up and going to the office and, you know, basically performing the essential functions of the office, the man who has been governor and had a sterling business career crosses the qualification threshold."

.-.-.-.-.

Sterling business career?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/...ry?id=16474493

Pete

It was the peyote canapes they serve in Hollywood a talking.;)

Dude... dude... Romney is like, sooo cool!

(SMACK) Snap out of it you idiot! :D

Pete

heheheh sometimes I come out of my own stupor and crack myself up.;):cool: