The Savings & Loan Crisis had Michael Milken. The dotcom charade had Bernie Ebbers, Kenneth Lay, and Jeffery Skilling. These men have been selected as the scapegoats to distract the public away from the real criminals that caused each crisis. And now, the world’s largest real estate and banking crisis – much larger than all previous heists combined – has Bernie Madoff. He will serve the same purpose.
Michael Milken was certainly involved in the S&L crisis, but he wasn’t the only villain. After only serving a couple of years (for good behavior) at Club Fed, he returned to society a very wealthy man. What other type of behavior besides “good” is possible at Club Fed?
Milken was certainly a scapegoat of the S&L crisis, but he certainly was not innocent. Yet, he is like many scapegoats from white collar crimes who manage to get off easy. One reason is because they have big money to buy their way out. But another reason is because white-collar crime is deemed to be relatively benign in America. This mentality must change now. Americans must demand it.