I saw this headline and it said Bernard Madoff is sorry and ashamed. It made me think, now, what is he sorry and ashamed of? It is getting caught isn't it! I mean, in his previous position, he must have known hundreds if not thousands who were milking the system by similar means as he is now accussed. Is it a matter of scale? Oh, that guy was the worst con artist in history, therefore, he gets bigger headlines and a smaller cell at the fall! Is there an acceptable limit of unethical behavior? Can you measure it...Oh this guy is OK, his con games are at an acceptable level. Maybe it can be linked to the weight of a goose? I saw on TV the other day a teenager facing prison for child pornography. He had posted pictures of his 16 year old girlfriend in acts of carnal debauchery on the net. He too, was sorry and ashamed followed by a smirking "it was really no big deal".

I believe we have become a generally sorry and ashamed society!

They better be sorry before they do such things

We're in the time of Pandora's Rectification where having gotten all the applause, awards, and stuff, she is reflecting on her life's work and she has regrets. Awww...

We've been breeding social irresponsibility for three decades now starting with Reagan's "We Are America! We deserve our wealth!" Today in CERN, they are holding a party for Tim Berners-Lee. He talks about how we should be rethinking his invention. Two problems: it's not his invention precisely and at the time he was proposing it, more experienced experts were telling him what the problems would be. He couldn't be bothered. Now it's trendy to be bothered. Awww....

Twenty years on we discover as those who understood both technology and sociology predicted that the web would follow the evolution curve of TV just faster. Awww...

Again, why do I like Arlo? Social responsibility. I don't mean he is an uptight prick (I don't know him, so I don't know). I mean he has always reflected back a conscience and a corrective gentle force. A good example is hard to come by. But we really do have to give a damm even if it means standing alone and being unpopular, or moderating the popularity so the message isn't lost in the marketing. Demographics are not measures of success. They are measures of penetration. Make your own analogies.

it just seems you should be proud of a 65 billion dollar con game?

Time to elect Arlo for President. He would be an upstanding one.

pb, I suspect the Russian Mafia is realll proud of the con. Now they are figuring out how to kill him in prison. (not a joke according to unnamed sources).

NOOO Cheryl!!! We need Arlo to do productive work.

I love the Russian Mafia...Of all the different mafia, they are my favorite!!!!

Never had to play in one of their clubs, PS. Saw most of the rest. Never cared for Boys Clubs, Good ol or otherwise. Independent contracting is where it is at. Truth though, the Italians and Germans treated me best. They understood the rule about not shooting the piano player, so they didn't involve me. Me business is mine.

Bernie's World is not where I hang my avatar.
If I gotta be a ghost, I wanta be a free sailor.
Freedom to play or aging in a jailcell?
Easy choice if it's yours to make.

well you know what I say to that
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHowqKYSXNI

Lord have mercy! Well said!

i'd like to change the champagne to gin and tonic please! and make it a double! as for bernie madoff, the fact that he kept getting reported and there were 8 actual investigations by people who should know more than the very smart ones who could recognize a huge ponzi sceme when they see one but didn't or didn't care, makes me feel very sad for the people who lost their money. and i really feel bad for the businesses that took money from ordinary people like us and trusted bernie and then their customers lost all their money. in a skewed way, that reminds me of losses in war due to friendly fire because the investment firms were scammed too.
also, to the orignal comment that bernie is ashamed? BS! how many years screw so many people and only become ashamed after you're busted.

Am I going overboard by suggesting this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxQX5nu ... re=related

Uh OH! Lar is gonna blame that thought on the Vegemite you've been eating doncha know!! (that reminds me it must be way past time to send some more?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW8CboRmNwU

My favorite song about greed and Ponze schemes and dealing cards with death! It is amazing to me the things people can live with! I mean, I am no angel, but ...well... It just amazes me?

I guess I just wonder if Madoff is a true reflection of American Ideology? Because I don't believe he is unique and I also believe he is a product of American Society (although there are obvious scope and scale arguements)... Just throwing that out there.

as a sociology major, i believe you're right. i know i'm no angel either but i actually feel remorse and the need to make amends when i screw up and it doesn't go on for decades!