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Europe
Fools, hellbent on amusing you, now really do run banks
2010-12-17
Tightwads are an increasingly rare breed. Its as if nobody actually saves, like, monies anymores.

Royal Bank of Scotland was once a proud and prudent Scottish institution. It turned into a financial fool,
A MOTLEY FOOL?
apparently throwing money at almost anyone who came through its doors offering a dire private-equity deal or a third- rate property scheme.
Like a strip club, money being tossed around, but no naked people
With seemingly boundless bravado, it led the disastrous €71 billion ($94 billion) consortium bid for ABN Amro in 2007, just a year before the financial crisis.

In short, RBS turned from careful to catastrophic, requiring a government rescue that has left British taxpayers owning 84% of the bank. Yet in the words of the U.K.'s financial regulator, "we did not identify any instances of fraud or dishonest activity by RBS senior individuals or a failure of governance on the part of the board."
Oh boy.
That's 'cause it was neither fraud nor dishonesty, merely following-the-crowd, sheeplike stupidity. They should have to give back their bonusses before being summarily let go.
Bankers used to have a reputation as skinflints. Now they have a reputation as gamblers. I don't think they moved up in the world.
Posted by:Fire and Ice

#1  Robert A Heinlein

People who go broke in a big way never miss any meals. It is the poor jerk who is shy a half slug who must tighten his belt.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2010-12-17 12:01  

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