That nit-picking Paul’s epistle to Tim,
Two thousand years ago, made it quite plain.
But, despite camels and needles’ eyes, grim
Greed rules, grinds grist, remains compassion’s bane.
Evidence? Overwhelming! Ask the desk
Guys who OK’d those bogus loans bundled
Into magic CDOs (no real risk,
Rated triple A!). They hawked, then trundled
Dour debt to drool-moist investors, bewitched—
Easy money! If they default we’ll steal
Estates and profit even more, enriched
By foul fakery, incentivized zeal.
Some saw impending doom, yet silently
Played on (incentivizing has its charm).
Then it all collapsed. Blame grew violently;
Paralytic fear widened, deepened harm.
And though forewarned, not once but many times,
By Jesus, Paul, and Chaucer’s Pardoner,
Who could resist incentivized lush crime,
Imagine demolition for the lender?
How long before, again, it’s all forgot?
Radix malorum est cupiditas.
(4/11/08)
Timothy 6:10
Matthew 19:24
Mark 10:25
Luke 18:25
Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale