Bernard Madoff
The case of Bernard Madoff and his appalling ponzi scheme
hurt many people on different levels. As U.S. government's trustees begin
plans to make financial payouts to the victims, albeit inadequate ones, as
much of the money was squandered, one is reminded of the terrible personal
and emotional toll the case took on innocent people.
While some feel sympathy for victims in the case, others do
not. A few people have stated the victims are rich or greedy and deserved
to lose their money to Madoff's mad schemes, but this is not correct. Some
of Madoff's victims were charities and middle class folks that were not
wealthy.
The Judiciary Report took a good look at the case and is
sympathetic to the victims and here's why. For many, it was more than
losing their money. It was having to come out of retirement at an old age,
after decades of working hard, to take difficult menial jobs that paid very
little, simply to put food on their tables. That seems quite unfair.
For others it was the loss of their children's dreams of
going to university, which is sad.
For some it was the loss of their business and laying off workers, who
depended on their salaries to feed their families. For many it became
terrible depression, after being wronged and robbed of all they had worked
for in life. For others it is feelings of betrayal at being viciously
deceived and defrauded by a man they thought was decent.
Society can do without such
behavior and it is sad that there are more Madoffs operating in the
financial sector, who have not been caught yet. The Madoff case was more
than just money. His conduct destroyed dreams and people's peace of
mind.
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