Occupy the Board Room!

Hello, Edith | 34  

I certainly hope you are well. I remember in February of 2008, when you were speaking at the HBS Women's Association of Greater New York. You remember, don't you? You spoke about "Finding Balance in Investing, Work and Life". How wonderful for you. I mean, in light of the fact that you apparently hadn't a clue. 
Long ago, at least 2 decades ago, a very wise old woman spoke to me of balance. She was old, Edith. Her face was as lined as those old puckered apple dolls that children and their grandmothers used to make. She was poor in the way of material things, as many wise old ones are. But her eyes sparkled with both kindness and a sense of humor. She spoke of what a great thing it was that woman had moved out into the work place, as highly educated participants in what had once been an all male domain. She felt it to be an empowering thing overall, but issued, also, a warning. A caveat of sorts. She said that woman hold a sacred responsibility. (Those were her words, Edith) And that those women who moved into that once all male domain, ran the risk of forgetting what their sacred responsibility was. That women tend to accommodate the males around them. This is neither good or bad. It is just a woman's way. But that if she accommodated too far, in the testosterone laden atmosphere, she would forget her true power, and trade it in for the power of becoming "an apprenticed male". Well, I of course asked her to speak more and to explain. And she said that woman carry a greater capacity for compassion. For empathy. For seeing the interconnectedness between people and within systems. And were better able to consider the effects upon the children, the elders, and the infirm, in most decision making processes.  Being in the highly competitive arena such as those that were once a male only arena, can often cut a woman off from the very traits any culture needs. For what is a culture without compassion? Without empathy? Without a recognition of our interconnectedness?  Interesting. Goldman Sachs, which you have obviously thought a great place to work, couldn't even balance its books. Goldman Sachs, required a bail out from the 99%, to the tune of $63.6 Billion. And even though that was the case, Goldman Sachs reported profits for 2009-2010 in the  $21.7 Billion range. Yet, Goldman Sachs has made political contributions, in excess of 8.4 Million, which appears to be a bit dodgy, doesn't it? Not to mention the frank and outright lobbying Goldman Sachs has done .. another $11.2 Million. 
Perhaps, Edith, you would do well to contemplate the topic of balance a bit more. To help you with this here are some other words: Balance. Harmony. Proportion. Symmetry. These are the things which are missing at Goldman Sachs. And were stolen from the people of our great nation, Edith. Indeed they were stolen from every country involved in our global economy, It is time to wake up, Edith. Sleep is done now.  Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. 
Sincerely,
the 99%