What constitutes a hero may vary from person to person. One man's hero, can be another's object of contempt, as you have demonstrated. Dogfighting goes way back and cuts across all spectrums and people. Maybe even that gentlemanly veterinarian across the street who was in the Marine Corp years ago.
I don't know if 'stupidity' is even the right word for it. Look how many people still buy into the whole God Delusion in this day and age when facts are so easily checked and verified. Why is the government allowed to so openly shred the Bill of Rights and nobody does anything about it? No, it's a part of basic human nature in MOST people to accept, trust, and follow <b>authority</b>, no matter where their own best interests may lie. To question authority is nearly unthinkable to most people, and there was no greater authority figure in Mark's life than his father. The long running self-delusion probably wasn't even that difficult for Mark to pull off, now that I think about it. Human nature, I tells ya.
Same story w/Hitler youth. Or Jim Jones followers. Or any sect. They're still guilty when they commit crimes of such magnitude. Sorry. no mercy. Anywhere for anybody. The only way to start the engines is to show the everyday guy that, if he rebuilds, the same assholes won't steal it. From all the questions I ask, I think the higher ups get it. This is all happening because the country is gutted like some fish on a day charter. There truly is nothing of substance left for anyone. If you think logically, you'd have to agree. I'm older than most of you knuckleheads, and I've never witnessed such coordinated law enforcement action on so many fronts at the same time. There has to be a reason.
There is a difference, whom you hurt with your dumbness. If you check your electric outlet by sticking a nail into it, that is your prerogative, but people who handle other people's money should be at least somehow skilled/responsible. I can even buy the naivite excuse up to the point when 5 or so years ago that guy started to write about Madoff to the SEC. There is no way Mark didn't read those exposes and you don't need to be a brain scientist to understand the implications of it. After all, wasn't it some of the Enron guys' excuse: We were just stupid, not criminals? P.S.: I could look up but I bet Mark had a business degree. So he should have known better than an average Joe....
Mark Madoff did not read the exposes since Harry Markopolos went through get effort to keep them private between him, the SEC, some journalists and a few other people
You are correct, so I guess we just have to believe that he was incredibly naive.... Naive as getting a 18 million dollars profit from a 745K original investment naive....with no trades involved, whatsoever....
I don't hold pro ball players in contempt. They're entertainers, not heros. Now mike vick? I'd like to see a pack of wolves carry him into the woods for an evening meal! I like to watch football, and enjoy the entertainment. As for Pat Tillman, he was a true hero in every essence imo. Turned down millions selflessly, and gave his life serving a Country that is proud of him. Hey, even Elvis joined the Army. I'm not a fan of Elvis music (mainly an age factor I guess, me being late 30's), but respected what he did in the middle of his singing career by voluntarily enlisting. I guess, "thank ya! Thank ya 'vera' much baby."
He did not have to know it was a ponzi scheme. He could have thought that trading profits were being diverted into his accounts in a very suspect manner. He could be sure there was a fraud... he might not of known the extent of the fraud. If your friend ran a fund company and a brokerage, and your account was getting stuffed with ipo allocations (were talking the old days) and profitable trades... would you suspect something strange was going on? By the way... to all you guys who were trading 10 years ago... was madof the provider of bullets? paired deep in the money puts and long stock for one day use?