Monday, February 20, 2012

Capitalism at its finest

Last week, ANZ bank, one of the Aussie banks sucking the lifeblood out of our economy, sacked a thousand of its workers to "cut costs". Then, they announced a A$1.48 billion quarterly profit, and decided to blow $2 million on an exclusive cruise for their top executives:

ANZ boss Mike Smith is taking his top staff on a $1.75 million cruise just weeks after axing 1000 workers to save money.

The exclusive Silver Shadow cruise of Malaysia's Langkawi islands boasts gourmet food, drinks and luxury suites.

Each of the 200 passengers - 100 staff and their guests - will have a personal butler.

[...]

Details of the Silver Shadow cruise are posted on the bank's internal website, rubbing dirt into the faces of backroom staff whose jobs are being shipped to India and the Philippines.

Its a perfect example of everything that is wrong with our modern economy. Real people get sacked, and the corporate psychopaths celebrate. Marie Antoinette would be proud.