Really, at this point, is there anything else that will get the message across?
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Associated Bank here in Wisconsin has been making headlines lately. And not in a good way.
It seems that Associated Bank went to the government and got some of that sweet, sweet TARP smack. Somewhere around $525 million. Yeah. Half a billion dollars of our money went to this bank.
And what did they decide to do?
Throw a party, of course!
Actually, the trip in question had been planned for some time. It was a getaway for 100 people to an exclusive resort in Puerto Rico. Now, I’m happy that some employees (it wasn’t all just executive pricks who were going to go) get rewarded for good performance. But come on. If you go begging for my money, don’t turn around and take a fucking resort vacation the next month. Don’t these cocksuckers understand anything? It’s called a social contract, asshole. When I loan you emergency money, I expect you to use it for fucking emergencies. While I could be wrong, I don’t think anyone has ever had to take an emergency luxury vacation.
When the bank CEO was called out for this, what was his response?
Somehow, he mustered an approximation of righteous indignation.
politically correct?” he asked. What he cares about, he said, is the opinion of
his employees, and they overwhelmingly support the Puerto Rico trip: “I think
it’s coming across very positively.”
Seeing as how his employees leaked the story to the press, I don’t think he’s exactly right about that last part, either. See alsothis.
Now for a personal anecdote. Years ago, in the service, another guy came up and asked me if he could borrow a few hundred bucks. I told him that he got paid on the first of the month, same as me. He was pretty insistent, though, and I finally loaned him $250. I told him to have it back to me as soon as he could. Well, the next time I saw him (two days later), he said, “Hey, man, wanna see my new tattoo?”
*blink*
*blink*
So I said “Sure!” And he gingerly rolled up his sleeve to show me–and I swear I am not making this up–a cattle skull tattoo on his upper arm. In color, of course. I looked really close. Because, you know, I’d never just taken $250 out of my wallet and lit it on fire before. So, after examining this tattoo closely, I leaned back and punched him in the arm as hard as I possibly could.
And this was a good hit. I mean textbook. Punched right through his arm, had a good follow through, and got that good hurt you get in your hand when you land a solid, solid punch.
Now this prick’s rolling around on the ground screaming, and I’m standing over him doing the same. I told that dumbass that I wanted all my motherfucking money as soon as payday rolled around, and if he ever came to me looking for cash again, I’d knock a few teeth out of his goddamn head.
As he never requested a loan again, I think I got my point across.
What’s that? You’re surprised I had a point? Yeah, me too.
But the point is this: If you come to me in desperate need of cash, and you get it, you don’t goddamn jolly well go and spend it on frivolities. You buy groceries. You pay the heat. You shore up your goddamn financial institution. And if you do blow it on something stupid, don’t get all in high fucking dudgeon when you get called out for it. Asshole.
Associated Bank has ended up cancelling the trip. So that’s something. However, the CEO, Paul Biedeman, made two million bucks last year.
Let me say that again.
This dipshit made two million dollars last year. So, if he really, really wanted to reward these 100 employees, he could pay for the fucking trip himself with no problem. And, really, wouldn’t that be a much better expression of appreciation from the boss?
I hope somebody punches him in the arm. Hard.