John Edwards, Money, and Morals

John Edwards is selling out to Wall Street.  I think this is a good thing.  We need talented people in business.  Indeed, I consider tax lawyers public interest lawyers, because when money is kept away from a wasteful government and invested in the private sector, the public has opportunities we would not have had.  But I'm an unabashed capitalist. I don't bully about their being two Americas.

I am, however, a Christian, and thus struggle with this question: When does a person have enough personal wealth that he has failed to live morally?  How much is too much?  (Un?)fortunately, I haven't had to live that question, since after paying student loans, rent, and other bills, I have enough left over to eat, read a few books, and smoke a couple of cigars.  (Still, should I indulge in such luxuries when others have nothing to eat?  Should I eat cheaper food and give the balance to the poor?)

Since I generally hang out with plaintiffs' lawyers, I've met a lot of people who call themselves "public interest" lawyers.  I even worked for a firm whose managing partner is a head of some silly "justice" organization.  The partner was a scoundrel who treated his associates with contempt, cared little about litigation-related costs (hey, the client will foot the bill), and lived in a mansion.  This lawyer was hardly a lawyer who acted with the intent to further the public interest.  He was a businessperson who traded a person's suffering for money.

Injured persons deserve compensation, and sometimes money really does ease a person's pain.  So I don't begrude plaintiffs' lawyers their living, and in fact, I work exclusively for plaintiffs' lawyers.  And, again, I think it's great that people can make a lot money, and I don't judge someone for being greedy.  Hey, maybe it's true that greed is good.  Truth is between man and his God.  But we mortals can't spot inconsistencies.  Logic doesn't prove there is a God, but it does prove there is a hypocrite.

When someone like John Edwards, whose net worth is between twenty- and seventy-million, takes a job on Wall Street, I can safely say he's a hypocrite.  He does not care about the poor America. (Unless, like me, he thinks that helping business ultimately helps the poor.  Does he?  Doubt it.) He cares about his own wallet.  Edwards, like so many politicians and lawyers, cares about the poor when it furthers his own personal wealth and power.  I'd pretend to care about a lot of things to become a Senator, Vice President of the United States, or Trial Lawyer of the Century.  I'd even pretend to care about Edwards!

So he can stuff the talk about how compassionate he is for the poor, and that he wants to further the interest of the other America.  In the neighborhood, we liked to say, "Don't talk the talk, unless you're willing to walk the walk."  Edwards talked the talk, and walked the walk - right to Wall Street.

Comments

[Mark]

"Edwards, like so many politicians and lawyers, cares about the poor when it furthers his own personal wealth and power."

Really? So how do you explain his work with the Urban Ministries, a faith based group in NC that helped homeless people? I don't see what he would gain or gained (in 04) by talking about the poor? Poor people don't vote and most of this country is selfish enought to care for only their personal interests... so how does his talking of the two Americas help him?

You said he talked the talk but didn't walkt it?

Well, then where have you been? Here in NC he has launched a pilot program that will fund tuition, books, and all other needs of 140 high school seniors who commit to doing 10 hours of community service per week. It is being done in the poorest county of NC... I wonder how that helps WallStreet. He was in New Orleans without any media blitz... I bet that is someone just talking and not walking the talk!!

Please, just because he is consulting an investment firm doesn't mean that he doesn't care about the poor. Not all corporations are robbing the poor... helping the poor and helping business growth are not mutually exclusive. Edwards has always fought against gov't programs that give unnecessary tax breaks, etc. to the rich who don't need it.... he hasn't said that we should take down all our business firms and the like.

If your judgment was honest, I would agree... however, you don't take into account all the other things the man's been doing.... and that I think is unfair!

[Jyoti]

I don't think Edwards is doing this for money... he is definitely running in 08, and this is a good way of not just beefing up his resume, gaining credibility with business but also to gain insight into the globalized world that would help any President and/or presidential candidate in policymaking.

[Aaron (no, not that one)]

Disappointed, Mike, only because you seem to have fallen into the fundamentalist trap; someone can only be one defining trait. People are complex and can be more than one thing at one time. Someone can be rich and charitable; business-oriented and socially conscious. Bill Gates is the richest American and the largest single philanthropist in the history of the world.
John Edwards can (and should) make money and make the world better. Are you bitter at Edwards because he is good at making money AND reaching back to help? Why should he be limited to one or the other?

[Aaron]

"I am, however, a Christian, and thus struggle with this question: When does a person have enough personal wealth that he has failed to live morally?"

Have you considerd Calvanism? ;-)

[mythago]

Yes, Calvinism is the sweet spot between being Libertarian and Christian.

The answer to your question was provided by Jesus, Mike: give away your riches, and follow God. If you can't do that, then I guess we know where your priorities lie.

I'd pass on to Mom the Tax Lawyer your comment about being a public-interest attorney, but she might be offended at the suggestion that she is doing poverty law.