The current news are all just doom and gloom over the world’s financial crisis. Recession, unemployment, bankruptcies and home repossessions – it is all just a tad too serious. So was the American presidential election, but Sarah Palin made it fun! Not deliberately, of course, but every morning I would wake up and read something said or done that would tickle me, and make my day. Why I miss Sarah Palin.
Spend, spend, spend, says Barack Obama and Gordon Brown. The leaders of the UK and the US wanst the G20 leaders to agree to a $2tn fiscal stimulus package for the failing world economy. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel will not agree to this, insisting that tighter financial regulations are needed, not more spending. G20 summit is not off to a good start.
The home of Sir Fred Goodwin, the face of Britain’s failing banking system, was vandalized early this morning. Three windows were broken and a car parked outside also suffered broken windows. A group calling themselves ‘Bank Bosses are Criminals’ have claimed responsibility, and warned that this is ‘just the beginning’.
Meanwhile, when asked in the congressional hearing, Edward Liddy, the new blame free boss at AIG preferred not to disclose the names of those executives receiving bonuses, because members of the public though they should be ‘strangled with piano wire’. Piano wire and toilet justice.
Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, has cautioned against further significant spending by the government to stimulate the economy. Mr. King argues that the current high levels of debt means that the government needs to be careful about further spending. Warnings against Brown’s spending spree.
Kenneth Lewis, the Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive seems to think so. Lewis has written to congress to express his concern, saying the legislation penalizes employees who are not responsible for responsible for creating the financial crisis the US is suffering. ‘In this environment, I am very concerned about our ability to retain some of our most valuable associates’, he went on to say. Is the 90% tax bill unfair?
Gordon Brown’s leadership skills are under even more pressure today, as the new unemployment figures were made official yesterday. The figures saw the highest increase in February since records began in 1971. 138,400 people lost their jobs in February, taking the total number of people out of work to 2.03 million people. Under pressure.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Gordon Brown finally admits some responsibility over the financial crisis. After David Cameron’s apology and subsequent double digit lead in the polls, this was only to be expected. Although it is doubtful whether this is enough to diffuse the calls for an apology from his political opponents. Brown finally accepts some responsibility.
Dick Cheney is still the Dick Cheney we got to know, but not love, for eight years. In an interview with CNN’s John King, he strenuously defends George W. Bush and the policies implemented during the administration Cheney was such a big part of. He also launches an outright attack on President Obama, saying that the new administration’s politics will leave America vulnerable to attack. Cheney proves he is still deluded.
David Cameron today apologised for mistakes his party has made on the economy. Among the errors mentioned was not warning about the extent of the UK’s debt crisis. Cameron says ‘sorry’ while Brown is silent.
We all love the Daily Show for poking fun at the political scene. Now we also get to love it for being right, and taking the moral high ground. It is about time someone spoke up about the ludicrously of business shows, and how they lack a sense of both good and evil. David vs. Goliath (or Stewart vs. CNBC).