"An armed robber takes his punishment. But the white-collar guys whine."
"By Barry Goldman
"February 28, 2012
"I mediated a case some years ago between a small general contractor and a carpenter. The carpenter had done some work for the contractor, and the contractor didn't pay. Then the contractor went to prison for arson. Once the contractor was out of prison and back in business, the carpenter filed suit to recover the money.
"I met privately with the contractor and went over the facts. Did you hire the carpenter? Yes. Did you agree to pay him such and such an amount? Yes. Did he do the work? Yes. Did you pay him? No.
"I asked why not, and I remember exactly what he said:
"'Did I tell you I was a nice guy? I don't remember saying that.'
"This was not the answer I expected. I expected to hear about his unjust and unfortunate incarceration and resultant financial difficulties and personal challenges. I expected him to duck and dodge and whine and wheedle and make excuses the way most people do.
"A friend of mine who is a federal judge and another who is a retired county prosecutor suggest I shouldn't have been so surprised. 'Give me an armed robber or a dope dealer any day,' they say. 'Of course they try to get the best deal they can, but they know what they did. They took a chance. And when they get caught, they stand up and take the punishment. It's a cost of doing business. The white-collar guys are totally different. Nothing is ever their fault. All they do is whine!'
"I hear that kind of whining over and over in my mediation practice. Employees who were fired for failing to come to work tell me, 'It was really retaliation for my outspoken defense of my constitutional rights.' Managers accused of sexually harassing one subordinate after another say, 'It's a conspiracy cooked up out of nothing by people who are out to destroy my career for no reason.'
"I hear it from my students. They didn't get the wrong answer; the question was ambiguous. They didn't get a lousy score; the curve was too high.
"We hear it from our 'leadership.' Newt Gingrich didn't have an affair because he saw something he wanted and he thought he could grab some without getting caught. Instead:
"'There's no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.'
"It's worthwhile to pause a moment here and marvel at the chutzpah it takes to produce a statement like that."
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-goldman-honor-among-thieves-20120228,0,1062223.story
"Barry Goldman is an arbitrator and mediator, and the author of 'The Science of Settlement: Ideas for Negotiators.'"
"Barry Goldman is an arbitrator and mediator, and the author of 'The Science of Settlement: Ideas for Negotiators.'"
I came across this in the print edition of today's Journal Times. Suits won't man up where street thugs will. Is it any wonder that few of our politicians come clean, even after they're prosecuted?
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3 comments:
Orb's, It's just another problem In our society. Many people have NO real sense of responsibility. For example, I was retired from my job after 38 years, and the company had no basis for doing what they did, and that my friend Is a bunch of BULLSHIT.
Do you know who are some of the worst offenders?
It's those who are employed by the State and who make good money.
There is a contributor on Mt. Pleasant Patch who is "Holier Than Thou" and demands everybody pay up - Socialism is good - FOR HIM.
So I looked Lyle Ruble up - I see he has struck a blow for freedom - by refusing to pay for heathcare, then refusing to pay the judgements against him for provided healthcare.
LOOK who the Garnishee is - HOW did he STILL avoid being garnished when it was State agencies? Perhaps he quit - which is why the foreclosure that was never enforced?
LOL.
"It's FREE for me - but it's PAY for thee!"
When I was a sole properitor in the State of Wisconsin I had a customer who stiffed me in a very aggravating way. I assisted them by providing them with an expense they had to pay.
There is NO JUSTICE in a society that refuses to protect private property rights. That is what destroys Societies.
WELL SAID Toad and Anonymous, the disease of non-accountability of the individual is destroying our society. and as Orbs said there are few people remaining who stand for conviction, instead of convienence.One must lead by example, not just words. Carry On.
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