brian,
To this thread, your (let's not call it departure or last anything, like 'never say never?) break, (smoke-em if ya gottem) is as serious as when Watterson shelved 'Calvin & Hobbs'. I became quite depressed, but then again that wasn't a SOE level depression was it...
Seriously, I am ashamed at the mixed feelings I have when I visited your last URL posted.
On one hand I am willing to ignore the lack of apparent morality of purpose which now seeems to surround SOE by virtue of their "head-shed".
This is no solidly founded, purposeful endeavor with high minded goals. This is apparently an organization which knows how to "work" the system in an underhanded, covert if you will, manner, with no moral conscience to consequences or respect for the laws you and I are supposed to adhere to. They know how to push all our buttons, and since they exist and operate on a different level of playing field, they don't worry about what is moral, let alone legal.
On the other hand, we want our leaders, our CEOs, to be capable, and capability these days is measured on downsizing for immediate realization of profits, and heading to offshore cheap labor for cost reduction; Nothing innovative there.
There are too few leaders who have steadfastly maintained their principles along their trek upwards, and when they are honored, it is always with awe mixed in with disbelief. The templeton Funds, guy, Bogle is an example, of what is good. He I, believe, 'invented' the index fund concept, giving shareholders an almost foolproof means to dollar average themselves in to future security, at the same time stressing the minimization of the Fund's operating costs. Then we have Bill Gates, who in effect has prospered because he, like Jobs was able as they see it, to sieze the moment, and made millions on other's hard work. The 'others' lacked the vision, because they were focusing on the application not the megaprofits to be made.
I am sure this thread is comprised of those vehemently for or against the whole "contra" episode. There is always the argument that the end justifies the means, but at of course a price. This new SOE president, what is he? And sadly, what are we who need to look to his leadership for any possible future recovery for our losses.
I apologize for the diatribe. But like a lot of you out there I am totally whacked over this whole deal. And brian, your whatever it is you are doing, is needed here.
Bill Kidston |
