Wow, because I used to read this guy and complain in comments that he was too favorable to corporate, financial and business interests, that he couldn't see the trees for the forest. Now this Pulitzer Prize winner comes out with this: Manifesto for Job Creators I owe the Post's Steven Pearlstein an apology. Bravo Mr. Pearlstein!
First, his "Manifesto" and then my comments.
This is a for all those PE Bain type guys, the CEOs, business owner, self-proclaimed Job Creator Gods.
I am the misunderstood superhero of American capitalism, single-handedly creating wealth and prosperity despite all the obstacles put in my way by employees, government and the media.
And because I am an American Job Creator:
I am entitled to all the rights and privileges of running an American company, but owe no loyalty to American workers or taxpayers.
I am entitled to complain about the economy even when my stock price, my portfolio and my profits are at record levels.
I am entitled to a healthy and well-educated workforce, a modern and efficient transportation system and protection for my person and property, just as I am entitled to demonize the government workers who provide them.
The ENTITLED exhibit no patriotic values yet they claim loyalty from American workers they have treated shabbily, allowing incomes to decrease or stagnate even when productivity is up. Even when profits are up.
They wish to be the New American Heroes but know nothing of heroism.
All they know is profit.
I am entitled to complain bitterly about taxes that are always too high, even when they are at record lows.
Steven Pearlstein's list continues, including among other things to which they claim entitlement:
~ a great judicial system
~ compensation and company perks in spite of poor performance
~ tax breaks
~ inside information to increase their wealth
~ favorable tax loopholes
~ buying elections anonymously
~ freedom from regulations
These entitled
"Job Creators" like Romney have been propagandizing Americans for decades, conspiring with the Republican Party to make things cozy for themselves while harsh and unforgiving to workers and consumers. Entitled to always take all the credit, they throw all blame elsewhere, never on themselves. They take no responsibility.
When they break the laws of the land they sign agreements for Easy Virtue, promising to obey an Ethics Agreement in the future --which they immediately trash. Sure, they pay fines, even in the billions, but they are almost never prosecuted, see no jail time, admit no wrong.
It's amoral. It's selfish. It is not the Economic Patriotism that President Barack Obama has been talking about.
They have NO LOYALTY to the American Worker but they demand loyalty FROM the American Worker, even as they fire them and outsource their jobs -- for higher profits.
They are often decent people, I am willing to believe. But way too many of them lie, cheat and trick people. That's not my opinion. The Big Banks and their CEOs and managers LAUNDER DRUG MONEY. It's just a cost of doing business to pay the huge fines if caught. Many of the Big Banks have been caught doing this.
The Big Pharma corps CEOs and managers keep information from patients and consumers even when they know drugs being wrong used, even on CHILDREN when they may damage or kill them. It is just the cost of doing business when they pay billions in fines.
But it's okay if they get caught killing people or laundering drug money because they NEVER go to prison for it. The corporation pays a fine, signs a paper and then find new ways to go on doing the same ILLEGAL things. The CEO may even get a
bonus afterwards. Heck, he probably gets three bonuses.
[That is just Banks and Pharma, not even talking about Energy corps and others.]
All the while enjoying their ENTITLEMENT status, the glamor of their millions and billions, all the while irresponsible toward the country that enables them to become wealthy in the first place. Enjoying their Entitlement Bubble, cut off from the world, attending the $50,000 and $100,000 and on up to Koch Brothers $100m access to a PE candidate who wants to re-jigger things even more to their advantage. After all, they've paid for that.