Why are CEOs portrayed as Corrupt and Greedy?

In today’s literary world CEOs are rarely portrayed as compassionate individuals. The lobbies for corporate America and the news agencies pandering to big business often defend CEOs as morally and ethically sound individuals. They ask, “Why are CEOs always portrayed as bad people?” To the average individual this question seems reasonable. Most reasonable people will agree that things are never black and white. Not all Muslims want to kill Americans and not all CEOs would sell their mother’s kidneys to buy a better cigar.

You are now thinking that I am exaggerating. No one would sell both kidneys for a cigar. Maybe a liver for a new Mercedes would be a better analogy.

CEOs are portrayed as greedy, ethically challenged, snakes because they are. These individuals have forgotten or never learned the concepts of honor, word, or compassion. They are the equivalent of slave traders. They do not care about the consequences of their actions as long as they make a buck. The primary justification is, “If I do not do this someone else will.” This is not just an opinion. I always view the world through actions. Words mean little to me. If a tree bears apples, it is an apple tree. The CEO can say all he wants that it is a pear tree. He can run huge marketing campaigns and even show his passion for the apple bearing pear trees but it is still an apple tree. This strong characterization is evidenced by corporate America’s actions.

Liz Moyer with Tatyana Shumsky of Forbes.com writes:

Bank of America told thousands of its cardholders in recent weeks--even those with good payment histories--that they faced a rate hike from 9% to as high as 28% if they didn't pay off their balances at the old rate and stop using their cards. The bank, the largest credit card issuer, since its 2006 acquisition of MBNA, says it's all part of its "periodic" review of customer credit risk.
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Bank of America (nyse: BAC ) gives card holders the chance to opt out of the higher rate by paying the account off, but such a request must be made in writing.

This is wrong. This is the reason why we need greater regulation of the financial sector. If Bank of America wants to change its rates on a revolving account it can do this but it cannot change the contractual rate for previous purchases. It also cannot require those in financial difficulty to pay off the entire amount to avoid the higher rate. For the rich, paying off the amount will not be difficult. For the family, massacred by the disastrous policies of Reaganomics, paying of the amount is just not an option. This means that they will now pay usurious interest rates even though they have been regular in their contractual agreement. This operation, to be followed by all of the institutions, will create a new group of slaves in bondage to the financial institutions.

Most of these debtors are good, hardworking people. Whether or not they have met their contractual obligations is not important. They will find themselves in the position to work indefinitely for the financial institutions or declare bankruptcy. We should not be surprised that the new bankruptcy laws will not allow credit card debt to be written off entirely.

These immoral and unethical actions are the fruits by which we can measure the moral fortitude of our business leaders. We cannot allow these individuals to hide behind corporate structures. It seems that today the outrageous is widely accepted. We raise independent thinkers and those who stand out to the highest pedestals. Raising the mignons of corporate America to star status undermines our country and destroys the hope that is the American Dream. These individuals must be set apart and publicly ostracized. No matter how much money these corporate elites have or command they must be put in the streets and locked in stocks and pillory so that those whose lives are forever maimed by their actions can show their displeasure. Perhaps after a thwacking CEOs would learn why the good of the many is more important than the needs of the few.