We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Financial Fraud and the Global Derivative Casino

by Matthias Chang from Global Research

This article focuses on the operations of big financial institutions that support the small capitalist ruling class to the detriment of the vast majority of people in the world.
$Trillions have been wiped out but hardly anyone of substance has demanded criminal prosecutions. Fraud, massive frauds have been committed by top bankers, lawyers, accountants, regulators and politicians of all hues but none had to pay for their crimes.
But, the guy who robs the corner shop down the road for a couple of bucks is incarcerated for five years or more, buggered and abused in prison. There is no pity for such a scumbag, no matter what are the circumstances that drove him to commit the crime.
I believe that Chang writes in a way that explains financial concepts and issues that many ordinary people can understand. Thus, I believe it is an important article to read and study thoroughly if you are to become an informed citizen and intelligent activist. (I always print out important articles like this for further study.)