"Five of the world's largest banks are to pay fines totalling $5.7bn (£3.6bn) for charges including manipulating the foreign exchange market."
(http://www.bbc.com/...)
Further tangible proof (as if we needed any) that corporations are corrupt. A little digging on opensecrets.org shows that several of these banks contributed significant amounts of money to both President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney during the 2012 election cycle. I'm sure they were donating for some moral reason that had nothing to do with future political favors (bollocks). This diary is so painfully banal because everyone who reads it already knows these things. However, that is not a reason to stop railing against the plutocracy. I do not want big money driving politics. I do not want corporate greed dictating policy. These corporate thugs and their ilk need to go to prison. How do you think we can dismantle this plutocracy of ours?
I think of this story (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Before hiring Sun Tzu, the King of Wu tested Sun Tzu's skills by commanding him to train a harem of 180 concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, appointing the two concubines most favored by the king as the company commanders. When Sun Tzu first ordered the concubines to face right, they giggled. In response, Sun Tzu said that the general, in this case himself, was responsible for ensuring that soldiers understood the commands given to them. Then, he reiterated the command, and again the concubines giggled. Sun Tzu then ordered the execution of the king's two favored concubines, to the king's protests. He explained that if the general's soldiers understood their commands but did not obey, it was the fault of the officers. Sun Tzu also said that, once a general was appointed, it was his duty to carry out his mission, even if the king protested. After both concubines were killed, new officers were chosen to replace them. Afterwards, both companies, now well aware of the costs of further frivolity, performed their maneuvers flawlessly.