Well, today a lot of people seem to have their panties in a bunch because of a stray comment by BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg, who is Swedish. He told reporters. "I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy companies or don't care. But that is not the case with BP. We care about the small people."
Clearly, the guy was not intending to insult or demean the good citizens of Louisiana, nor was he showing a preference for midgets and dwarfs. He was trying to show some humanity in the face of anger and disappointment. The translation did not go so well, but a fair-minded person might have expected the faux pas to pass with barely a twitter. Maybe a mention on the Leno show.
But it evoked memories of the lordly attitude of Leona Helmsley who famously said, "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes...," She was sent to prison for tax evasion shortly thereafter.
But I think this "small people" remark is a case of "lost in translation" more than an imperial attitude. Now the media is spilling more oil on the fire by focusing on the outrage of a few nitwits and attention whores. Now the guy has to apologize again. Besides setting aside $20 billion to cover the costs of the damages to people and property in the area.
The hyenas are rushing to the kill, but we should keep in mind that if BP is driven into bankruptcy all the people with claims will just have to get in line and divide-up a much smaller pie. It will be heaven for lawyers regardless of their stature.
I am sick of this story, aren't there some wars going on somewhere?
6 comments:
Speaking of nitwits and attention whores, how about John Boehner's comment after Obama's speech that he is exploiting the crisis “to impose a job-killing national energy tax on struggling families and small business.” Or Michael Steele's claim that Obama was “manipulating this tragic national crisis for selfish political gain.” And the ever-entertaining Michele Bachmann denouncing the BP restitution fund as “redistribution of wealth” and “one more gateway for government control.” Now those comments are the very embodiment of whorish nitwitting.
How about the number one recipient of oil money in the senate publicly apologizing to BP for the "shakedown"?
Lawyers spend their time carefully dividing up the pie, entrepreneurs concern themselves with making the pie bigger. (Old Japanese Saying)
Come to think about it, isn't Obama a lawyer?
I think Mr Obama will be rejoining the ranks of the small people after the next election.
If Obama keep governing in a "small" way (all change comes in the tiniest of steps) instead of taking some bold positions, you may be right.
BTW: entrepreneurs do make bigger and fancier pies, but left unchecked, they'll care little about who they spill the leftover ingredients on.
Rick,
If you keep stretching these metaphores, you're going to spill the ingredients too.
DEN,
(Mr. Fluid Formatting)
Are you here Escaping from the Hellhole or Escaping from the Hellhole Journal?
Just Curious
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