Dear Mr. Obama: Wealth does not equal success
Few things indicate America's callowness and shallowness as the use of the euphemism "success" for the feat of accumulating lots of assets in your brokerage account, a house at the shore, a Cadillac Escalade etc. Obama makes this mistake in today's comments on capping executive pay at companies that get big bailouts.
"This is America. We don't disparage wealth. We don't begrudge anybody for achieving success. And we believe that success should be rewarded," Obama said in a news release. "But what gets people upset -- and rightfully so -- are executives being rewarded for failure. Especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers."
Success is responsible parenting, a stable marriage, happiness, a job you like, staying out of jail, looking after your fellow humans, having good friends and generally making the world better. It has little to do with your bank account.
Comments
True, but in the context of Obama's comments, he was entirely correct. One who is successful at her chosen profession will be rewarded. Those rewards are typically financial.
Posted by: WillClark4HOF | February 4, 2009 12:51 PM
Jay, you're really picking nits here. In the context of his comments, Obama was obviously referring to financial success. Slow news day?
Posted by: howndawg | February 4, 2009 1:31 PM
Actually, I think I meet Jay's criteria really well, however....
I still like to pay my mortgage on time, helping my children and grandchildren, and would really enjoy retiring someday.
Posted by: save_the_rustbelt | February 4, 2009 4:10 PM
We SHOULD begrudge wealth?
Posted by: tjh | February 4, 2009 7:01 PM
Success usually includes financial security, and is universally accepted. You are trying to analyze and pick holes in Obama's statements. If you are a real bean-counter, then there is a job for you with the IRS
Posted by: Brock MacLean | February 6, 2009 11:52 AM
Perhaps you should spend some time researching the many false arguments post Enron offered by Republicans saying that Sarbanes-Oxley was too repressive and unneccessary. Your readers would be better informed by such an honest analysis than this displaced ad hominim attack on the President; hope you can better define your job responsibility in the future-this is very weak.
Posted by: joe compton | February 8, 2009 9:51 PM
Anyone that has lots of assets in their brokerage account, a house at the shore, and a Cadillac Escalade would probably disagree with your definition of success.
Anyway, Obama is talking about sucess in business not a successful personal life. You should probably remove this post...it's not a well though out.
Posted by: Justin | February 9, 2009 8:47 AM