Closer to justice? Elie Wiesel, other Madoff victims
The Bernard Madoff victims list seems endless. Many people and charities got taken -- or completely wiped out -- in his multibillion-dollar investment swindle. But of all the victims, I feel particularly bad for author Elie Wiesel, who has seen and chronicled the horrors of the Holocaust. Enough, already.
Wiesel has ranked Madoff among "the greatest scoundrels, thieves, liars, criminals" in recent years. Still, he seems remarkably disinterested in public criticism, considering he lost millions in personal and foundation money.
Yesterday, he said on WBUR, "I really don’t understand evil. In my novels, I don’t have the perpetrators as protagonists, really. Only the victims. I am on the side of the victims, everywhere, and I try, therefore, to understand them. And I cannot see, why did he do that? Why did he need so much money? And furthermore, to go to poor people!"
Our justice system is ill-equipped for this sort of financial serial killer. Madoff headed off to jail today, to await sentencing. But he left behind a staggering list of victims, who will need years to recover -- maybe even more years than the 70-year-old Madoff will live.
Photo from Startraks
Comments
I just hope that Madoff and/or his associates don't end up with a book deal out of this!
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | March 12, 2009 4:44 PM
Gail, you read my mind. I wouldn't mind reading about it from a victim's perspective, but a Madoff memoir would be gross.
Posted by: Dave | March 12, 2009 5:03 PM
The way I understand it Madoff was promising ridiculously high profits from his investments. This should have set the alarm bells a-ringing. I hate to blame the victim, but in this instance I don't see how one cannot. The vision of dollar signs dancing in people's heads can blind common sense. My heart goes out to those who were victimized by Madoff, but come on folks, you should have known better.
Posted by: Gene Greathouse | March 13, 2009 12:15 PM