Dead End Schemes And Broken Dreams

Thursday, 26 January 2012 07:57

Written by Ebonie Jones

The trial of R. Allen Stanford, mastermind behind the second largest ponzi scheme in United States history, has commenced. Ponzi schemes are both exciting and ironic. Exciting because it takes a certain personality to put everything at risk to obtain everything desired. Ironic because everything accumulated is eventually lost. Hence, I’m not surprised that the ex-billionaire who sported an estimated net worth of $2 billion, Antigua’s largest private employer and richest citizen, has lost possession of all assets and titles. He is now living the opposite of his once lavish lifestyle being imprisoned, the victim of prison assault, and suffering from an addiction to anti-anxiety medication. After his legal team tried to quit, the former Sir Allen was pronounced indigent and is being defended by court appointed attorneys.

His lead defense team plans to attempt to convince jurors that Stanford had no intentions of defrauding anyone. They further state that, like many businesses, the Stanford Group Co. suffered due to the economic downturn of 2008, and investors lost money only after the government seized the businesses. Is this the life he planned at age 61? I don’t think so.

Businessmen like Stanford are really no different from banks or other financial institutions. They are simply brick and mortar representations of the men in suits who operate them. These institutions also have a tendency to prey on the masses. It is this love of money (not money itself) that drives people to promise future financial rewards that are non-existent or will never come to fruition, issue loans to people who can’t afford them, link health insurance to jobs and retirement to volatile stock markets. It is this greed for money, the desire of always wanting more, and the insatiable appetite for things that ultimately lead to collapse of self (Stanford, Madoff), companies (ENRON) and economies (Jamaica, Cambodia, Africa).

“It’s just business.” The slogan that justifies a host of shrewd behavior, aggressive takeovers, lies and facilitates the inability to see people as people, instead of ventures in business. It’s this mentality that leaves one with no remorse when individuals are left worst off after being haggled and swindled. After all, it’s just business.

Maya Angelou states, “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.” When you execute with genuine joy, care and concern, you build on a solid foundation and create a legacy based on good character and strong morals. Don’t simply be a paper chaser. Stop being obsessed with the profit line. Money is only valuable as long as we have confidence in this paper. Once the confidence is gone, the paper is useless.

Trying to accumulate money by any means necessary is never worth it. Yes, money does make life a lot easier; however, money shouldn’t be the end all. The Bible warns that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). People are willing to put their future, their relationships, their name, their soul, their respect, their entire entity at risk to obtain as much money as possible. Consider the means. The very means that bring big bucks might be the very ones that strip you of both tangible and intangible possessions. Material possessions can always be replaced, but joy and peace are priceless. Time can never be replaced. Once the moment is gone, it’s gone forever, and no amount of money is worth the pleasure of freedom. These we give up voluntarily when we choose to scheme.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ebonie Jones is a freelance writer with MNI Alive