by Denis Campbell
Truly happy to see you survived a liver transplant and seemingly fully recovered. Now, why did you lie to the investors? Were you former GM CEO Waggoner and pulled a similar disappearing act (OK, an admittedly bad example) instead of the hip, Apple iPhone toting, Mac re-designing icon… your investor mis-direction would be the subject of Congressional Hearings and an SEC investigation.
Indeed corporate governance experts are screaming, mostly unheard over Sarah, Sanford and divine son MJ, that you hid your illness to protect stock price and shareholder value. Instead, like the other prodigal son, you get the fatted calf prepared, slip in the side door unnoticed (if indeed you are there since last week was your self-imposed return deadline and we onlyhave the word of a corporate PR shill that you are there), investors yawn and your new iPhone continues to set sales records.
WTF?
We have four banks ‘that cannot fail’ (sounds like he who shall not be named, “Lord Voldemort!” “Citibank!”) that put the entire global economy at risk and in the heart of the credit crisis by hiding toxic indexed swap derivatives under the flying cards in a street game of 3-card monty.
We have millions going to fund weatherising of homes under the stimulus bill, funding for homeless programmes in areas where there are no homeless but people are going hungry and entire cities and states shutting down over political egos.
Democratic grumblings of business as usual in Washington when it comes to regulating robber baron CEOs who raise their own pay vs to astronomical levels to get around prohibitions to pay out bonuses whilst under taxpayer funded receivership and thumbing their noses at us vs. trying to do the right thing and help something other than piggy snout bottom lines.
Agency heads try to convince folks worried about failing companies that corporate governance matters but you prove it only means something when your company is in the tank and everyone is too busy getting ready to live broadcast Michael Jackson’s funeral 24/7 from LA Staples Centre home of the LA Lakers and Kings (yeah the Clippers play there too but we’re only focused on real sports teams).
Seriously WTF?
You are very shrewd Mr. Jobs. You knew no one would care. That the Republican implosion or some celebrity would grab our ADD addled brain cells, please save the letters, I know it is a serious disease and in no way am I mocking it, only our inability to concentrate as a society for more than about two minutes before wondering what Governors Sanford or Palin are saying today about soul mates and soul journeys!
We get what we deserve here, so when are people going to pay attention and demand more. How much worse does it need to get to get their attention? Apparently, a whole lot worse.
OK Steve, I’m in, I’ve got the Queen and this time will definitely win! Anyone seen my Lotto ticket, that £50 million is surely mine this week?!?
