For the past few years, you have witnessed the dissolution of free market capitalism in America. It happened for one reason: lack of fear.

As expected, the excuses abounded. Recriminations flew. Half-truths, misinformation and outright fabrications took center stage to explain away what contributed to the greatest economic collapse in the U.S since the Great Depression. The only constant was those that were most responsible for the debacle vehemently denied their culpability. It was the system’s fault, except systems can’t be indicted, much less convicted. And they don’t feel the pain of large fines and incarceration as actual human beings do. Deflecting blame and diluting the truth is what perps do: it ensures they remain fat, healthy and wealthy.

But all the denials in the world won’t bring back the money tens of millions of hard-working Americans lost during the collapse. It won’t bring back the trillions of dollars collectively lost around the world.  Unrecoverable will be the central tenet that has allowed late stage American capitalism to thrive: create a great product or service, sell it at a fair price, work hard and reap the rewards. Conversely, create a flimsy product or service, manipulate the public into buying it, and suffer the consequences…bankruptcy or insolvency. That did not happen. The former paid the price, the latter got bailed out. 99% of the country, across all political spectrums, was horrified by that outcome.

But nothing changed. The entities housing the perps got larger and less accountable. Not a day goes without their lobbyists trying to dilute effective regulatory reform. Worse, like sheep lining up to be fleeced yet again, many of the most vocal opponents of the bailouts continue to stumble through the doors at Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and their ilk. Ignorance is one thing; it’s even understandable: voluntarily doing business with firms that did as much damage to the reputation and stability of the United States as those outfits listed above is flat out incomprehensible.

The American public has a tried and true tendency to forgive and forget. They huff and they puff and they blow a lot of smoke about, but ultimately do very little to combat the injustices waged against them by Wall Street and others (Occupy Wall Street notwithstanding). It’s been well documented for decades by the financial media, and is a primary reason recriminations are kept to a minimum and the perps remain safely in their estates.

I won’t be part of that group.
That ain’t my gig.
The Modern Medusa is Coming.
Be fearful.

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