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The Spectacle Blog
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a prairie populist, has come up with an interesting idea for AIG executives: kill themselves. And he suggests a Japanese twist, which suggests the practice of ritual seppuku, whereby the person disbowels himself. A "second" then stands by to finish the job if necessary.
Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley suggested that AIG executives should take a Japanese approach toward accepting responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by resigning or killing themselves.
The Republican lawmaker's harsh comments came during an interview with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station WMT on Monday. They echo remarks he has made in the past about corporate executives and public apologies, but went further in suggesting suicide.
"I suggest, you know, obviously, maybe they ought to be removed," Grassley said. "But I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide.
"And in the case of the Japanese, they usually commit suicide before they make any apology."
I like the idea. I can think of a number of Wall Street and corporate executives who should consider this option.
But the list of politicians who should follow suit is much longer. Who voted for the TARP bail-out last September? Who supported the previous three bail-outs of AIG? Who voted for the Community Reinvestment Act, which pressured banks to make bad loans in poor neighborhoods? Who shilled for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose irresponsible practices are at ground zero of the financial crisis? Who voted for wasteful deficit spending, year in and year out? Who backed the Medicare drug benefit, which added trillions more to Uncle Sam's unfunded liabilities? Who ... well, you get my point.
How about a session of mass seppuku on Capitol Hill, led by Sen. Grassley?
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More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/03/18/a-new-ritual-for-capitol-hill
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Deborah| 3.18.09 @ 8:14AM
I like the idea. I'm so sick of the "holier than thou" politicians who are up to their necks in our financial mess pointing their fingers at everyone else. Our governments: federal, state and local are run by sociopaths. How else can you explain this total lack of conscience evident from the president on down to the county clerk?
CH| 3.18.09 @ 1:28PM
Narcissists. Washington D.C. is Hollywood for ugly people. (real ugly)
C Bowen| 3.18.09 @ 2:35PM
Don't forget to include the schemers of the Iraq invasion.
Starry Night| 3.18.09 @ 2:40PM
How about Clinton? His feckless leadership caused 9/11.
C Bowen| 3.19.09 @ 9:27AM
How about anyone who had "National Security" in there title, 1976 through September 2001?
Not one resignation. Ollie North and Richard Perle, who didn't think anything of arming the Afghanistan Freedom Fighters against the Russians are actually--I know its hard to believe--still in relatively good standing.
Starry Night| 3.19.09 @ 11:29AM
Actually, it's not hard to believe--they are patriots. I'd like to frog march Frank and Dodd and all of the traitorous leftists on their way, though.
C Bowen| 3.19.09 @ 2:03PM
Richard Perle a patriot? He lives in France and lied his country into war--didn't he get into trouble for espionage in 1970?
I guess we have different definitions of patriot.
Starry Night| 3.19.09 @ 7:18PM
I guess we do, and thank God. I'm sure you believe the Brown Shirted ACORN thugs are patriots, too; anything goes in order to steal elections and attain power, right? That's the way you traitorous bastards roll.
C Bowen| 3.20.09 @ 10:08AM
umm...no. Is that all you have? I am well to your Right it would appear.
I think the term Useful Idiot applies here--calling a Traitor a Patriot and all that. Oh I loath ACORN as much as the next Republican--I only wonder why the Republicans funded it over all these years, the same way the funded Planned Parenthood year after year.
It's a scam--figure it out already.
Or are you Soft on Treason?
Starry| 3.20.09 @ 3:10PM
Oh, I get it; you're a libertarian--a Ron Paul boy. I'm not a repub--I'm a traditional Conservative. I wasn't thrilled about Bush's stupid adventures either. I am Conservative on economic/social issues. Sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is a lib troll. I've read your posts before--I thought you were Conservative. I was trying to figure you out. I know, you hate neo-cons--I understand.