No More Smoke and Mirrors

HOUSTON - Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were convicted of conspiracy and fraud Thursday by a federal jury that laid blame for one of the biggest business scandals in U.S. history squarely on Enron Corp.'s two former top executives.

"I firmly believe I'm innocent of the charges against me," Lay said following the hearing. "We believe that God in fact is in control and indeed he does work all things for good for those who love the lord." - AP release on May 25, 2006

I normally feel a twinge of sympathy for people under duress, but I feel nothing for these two. Jail time is the least punishment for the harm they did to millions of people here in California and in Texas and, well, nationwide. Their prison sentences will not bring back jobs, pensions, investments, businesses, but at least the government sent a clear message to clueless bozos who are responsible for allowing or encouraging graft, corruption and greed to overrun their companies. Cooking the books, reaming the public, bankrupting your shareholders and employees will not be tolerated in corporate America.

Not to be bleak, but does this same standard apply to our government? And so it goes...