Sunday, I had my brother photograph this sunflower painting. It is not finished; however, I wanted to see it as a print at this stage to see if I liked it and whether others might like it too. I am looking into offering this as a signed print for sale, framed or unframed, so I am interested in critical feedback.
Last September 2008, the whole financial system almost imploded. We came very close to the edge. Without the help of a few friends around the world, there would have come a Monday that would have seen all the gears of the financial system come to a halt.
In reading about this, there was mention of one investment bank's group of men standing around a muted TV watching the New York Giants play on a Sunday afternoon, while the head of the firm was negotiating needed capital from a Japanese bank. It occurred to me that the NFL, National Football League, is better run than our financial system in this country. Let me explain.
First, the owners of the teams in the NFL do not issue common stock to the public. They have their own money at risk. There might be a partnership of several individuals, but each person is in for a stated amount and the success of that franchise is dependent upon their actions in hiring the right GM, general manager, and coach. The NFL has rules, and the rules are enforced both on and off the field. The NFL even has instant replay and challenges to make sure that the games are called right.
These finance people love to watch the NFL every Sunday because they put a contest on the field that is backed up by rules and enforcement and quality play. Wouldn't it be nice if the financial industry went back to partnerships and rules and enforcement and quality play too?
Everyone wants an edge. Whether it is sports, school or business, everyone wants to be successful. But being successful and killing the sport or the system is not good for the country. We need to understand that without the level playing field, we have nothing. Without a few friends around the world, we would have all been rubbing two sticks together again to stay warm. It is past time for people to wake up and realize that abusing the financial system so a few can make outrageous money is not what this country, or any country, should be about.
Stay tuned.
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4 comments:
The unfortunate thing is that those people - the ones who made all the money - and those who CONTINUE making all that money - are laughing all hte way to the bank. THEY DON'T CARE what you and I think.
Thinking about Van Gogh, one sees a failure in the assumption that market forces reward creativity. Van Gogh created art, but couldn't sell it. Hi died in poverty. Since his death, the reward of his creativity has gone to art dealers as his paintings now sell for millions.
Yes, the market economy has some good aspects to it, but often it rewards the wrong people. Still free market folks argue that the market is the best system of incentives to reward and motivate the best of human endeavor.
As we see from the folks at top of corporations, top pay category isn't necessarily cream of the crop as far as talent or trustworthiness is concerned.
Letting the wealthy keep their wealth is not necessarily the road to motivating the best in human striving.
Also speaking of sunflowers you might find pictures of sunflowers on my site to be interesting. Click on the Flickr thumbnails to enlarge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theslowlane/tags/sunflowers/
Sunflower done in tile of cafe entrance in Palouse, WA. and Sunflowers near Washtucna, WA.
Also
http://www.theslowlane.com/91tripb/flower.html
Sunflowers all the way to horizon in eastern Dakotas. Amazing to bike through.
Even the CEOs were scared in September 2008. They work in an industry that few really understand. The politicians don't understand what needs to be done, and the lobbyists keep pounding away at them for less regulations. We are going down the same road again unless real change takes place.
Good comments Robert, I enjoyed everything you said.
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