Energy Suckers

So, except for the sentencing, the Enron trial is pretty much wrapped up, and Mr. Skilling and Mr. Lay are going to jail for what should be a long time. It's interesting how they tried to prove that the downfall of the nation's then seventh largest company was the result of a few bad decisions, or negligence on the part of Mr. Lay who apparently became CEO of this company without the ability to observe or act. That's called a figurehead, and even though there are some out there, they wouldn't be running a company for long.

No, what it was was people who got greedy, and learned all the loophole tricks of the time. They instructed a workforce to make these moves, and the workforce went along with it because they were reaping in the bounty.

Houston benefitted greatly from Enron, as their workers had disposable income, bout expensive houses and lofts, and ate at the best restaurants. I remember after Enron collapsed, the midtown housing market fell and several downtown businesses closed because the out of work employees could no longer afford to go there.

Enron left it's mark on Houston. Not only was there the familiar "E" logo that appeared on the nightly news for weeks, but much of the arts community, public events, and even a YMCA branch named for Mr. Lay, changed the town. That money has dried up as well, and one keeps wondering when that "Y" will change it's name. After the fall, Mrs. Lay even opened a shop to sell extra belongings for cash for the upcoming trial.

Some will say Enron was a lesson, but I'm sure we'll see some of the same old stuff the next time a group of guys think their smart and can develop a get rich system, not knowing what kind of turbulence they'll create in their wake. Greed's just not something people shy away from often.

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Oh, so I found out my friend Pete (trapezebear) is in the Advocate this month with his chosen family of four. It's the Advocate's big polyamory issue (Matty, take note), and of course we all knew that gay marriage would lead to this, didn't we?

Of course, how do I find out about this? Not from Pete, or even from LJ, but from the American Family Association (AFA)! Yes, the AFA in their fight against Ford Motors has decided to email their supporters (and anyone else on the list) to tell them what an outrage this is, and that Ford is just flaunting it in the faces of right-minded Americans.

They provided a link to captured pages of the magazine, showing the Ford and Volvo ads closely linked not only to Homosexuality, but the unnatural state of more than one of them living together!

Shocking I tell you, though it is good to see Pete again, in 2-D form.

What scares me is that Donald Wildmon subscribes to the Advocate - or at least picks it up at Barnes and Noble.

I say we get him a subscription to A Bear's Life.