I said yesterday that I was gonna mumble about money today, and I will via more links. Huzzah!

St Paul’s report links City’s ethical decline to Big Bang reforms
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/06/church-report-says-city-morality-declining

This report was actually commissioned well in advance of their occupation, and indeed, they were slow to release it because they were concerned it would suggest an implicit support for the protest above what they are/were willing to make. But it is a rather ‘No duh’ conclusion – that ethics weren’t a concern. I tend to be amazed that anyone ever thinks it could be so – it’s about making money, not friends. But with the right spin and PR, it’s no wonder people have been slow to realize that maybe, just maybe, things haven’t been going so well. And time and time again, there’s ample evidence to support this:

What caused the financial crisis? The Big Lie goes viral
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/what-caused-the-financial-crisis-the-big-lie-goes-viral/2011/10/31/gIQAXlSOqM_story.html

I think most people are smart enough to not fall for the Big Lie. The banks weren’t the victims; their customers were. The average Joe was emphatically the victim, in spite of the naysayers suggesting that poor old Joe was just stupid for not being able to predict the future and save his own backside. But then, that could be because of:

The Self-Attribution Fallacy
http://www.monbiot.com/2011/11/07/the-self-attribution-fallacy/

People truly and genuinely believe that their luck of having a bit above was due to talent and how deserving they are, rather than accepting that they’ve lucked out. Shiii, I freely admit that I lucked out, and celebrate my good fortune. I have what I need out of life – a stable, loving marriage, a sweet child, dual citizenship, a roof over our heads with decent Internet, and the ridiculous flexibility that comes to having married into a family business. I know it’s an extraordinary situation and count my blessings every day, but try not to dwell too much on much worse it could be (for example, if we had set up shop stateside – it would have been baaaad). I do not think I deserve this over any one else. I do not think that people who are worse off deserve it because they’re ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ or ‘lazy’. I definitely don’t think that people deserve to starve to pad my pocket, like some do:

How Goldman Sachs Created the Food Crisis
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/27/how_goldman_sachs_created_the_food_crisis

Obviously, this isn’t just a first world problem. This pushed so many extra people into food poverty as to be unreal. But obviously, the financial folks still feel that they’re above it all… what to do, what to do…

It’s just a bit of gristle to chew on, mind. It is obvious that there is a need for change, real change, not PR spin promising to be greener/fairtrade-ier/whatever because many people don’t pay attention to more than sound bites. I’m not sure we can ever force these massive money-fueled machines to actually give a crap about people, but we can at least try to force the governments to rein them in and stop ruining the world for the rest of us. We are not their property, we are not to be bought and sold. We have our own dignity, and deserve a decent standard of living. But this will never happen if we are not making strides to educate ourselves and others… so get to reading. 😉 And have a great Friday – I’ll see you all tomorrow.

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