Jones Beene wrote:
However, the situation is far different when you are from top management of the Department of Energy, and have used taxpayer money and inside political connections for gain. . . .
Sure. It that is what happened, it is another example of what we saw at Enron. Unethical and illegal behavior. Greed unrestrained by morality.
My impression is that the 2008 market crash, AIG and so on was caused more by stupidity than illegal behavior, but I know little about it.
Unfortunately, it is the way of the world that large, lucrative projects of this nature are often steeped in unethical greed. The Transcontinental Railroad was a classic example. It was a triumph of technology and spirit, paid for by Uncle Sam. The money was paid back, with interest, within a generation. Unfortunately it was also rife with corruption with huge sums being paid to members of Congress, or siphoned off into the pockets of insiders, in the Credit Mobilier scandal and others.
- Jed
