Goldman Execs Arming Themselves for Uprising?

By: Dana Chivvis
Topics: Banking

(AP Photo/David Karp)

Goldman Sachs executives may be arming themselves out of fear of a public uprising, according to a Bloomberg column by Alice Schroeder. The columnist learned this from a friend who had been a reference for a Goldman banker trying to get a gun permit. Apparently, the unnamed banker is not alone.

(At left, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein.)

Schroeder did not get a response from Goldman Sachs Spokesman Lucas van Praag, but the NYPD told her that some of the bankers had indeed received gun permits.

Click here to read the Bloomberg column

In addition to weaponry, Goldman Sachs is trying to arm itself against public outrage over the financial crisis and bailout by donating – along with Warren Buffett - $500 million. Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein retracted an earlier statement that Goldman's greed had been "God's work" and apologized for participating in the events that led to the near collapse of our economic system.

But Goldman has a lot to defend itself against. The public fumed when it learned that Goldman Sachs had earned a record $27 billion in the first nine months of the year. Bankers who had caused the financial meltdown were profiting at enormous rates from the rest of America's tax dollars.

"Plenty of Wall Streeters worry about the big discrepancies in wealth, and think the rise of a financial industry-led plutocracy is unjust," Schroeder writes. "That doesn't mean any of them plan to move into a double-wide mobile home as a show of solidarity with the little people, though."

Instead, she argues, Wall Street would rather cling to its wads of cash with one hand and a gun in the other.

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by rykatspop December 2, 2009 9:56 PM EST: Yes, yes, yes. And when the accused are brought to trial for the uprising and shootings, please put me on the jury. I will be more than happy to vote for acquital, unless the accused is a banker of course! Then I will happily vote guilty and recommend the death penalty. Let the uprising begin!!; Reply to this comment


by rykatspop December 2, 2009 9:52 PM EST: Plundering Americans for billions is the ultimate insult. Then when you go to any of the banks, there they treat you like dirt, too. I hear a lot about fees and charges the banks tack on to people for checking issues. Then the jack up interest rates on credit cards with hardly a notice--or regulatory approval. Sadly, none is needed. Amazingly, they are increasingly afraid of the public, of their so-called "valued" customers. The revolt can't come soon enough for me. Please put me on the jury. I would love to dismiss against any accused, unless the accused is a banker! Then I will convict, no matter what the evidence is. Let 'em fry.; Reply to this comment


by beeker252 December 2, 2009 4:45 PM EST: Surely they deserved to be scared because they ripped off thousands of hard working people of their money with their bet to make obscene profit at the expense of the health of the company. I look at this way: There is many against the few. Who's gonna win?; Reply to this comment


by cidaia December 2, 2009 4:45 PM EST: If they are afraid of uprising why don't they do the right thing?

They cling to their wealth and they KNOW the entire nation hates them because they are thieves. How can that be happiness?

What's really sad is that they are men wealthy enough that if they gave away half their wealth, they'd still have enough to live on more than comfortably.

But some people are addicted to drugs, and others to their gold-hoards, I guess.; Reply to this comment


by anti-global3 December 2, 2009 4:10 PM EST: let them buy their pea shooters. When a hundered or so of us with semi and automatic weapons show up at the door of one of them with a handgun it should be kind of comical. Many of us are just waiting for the uprising to start. Who starts it is still not known but someone will. When that happens the Goldman Sachs people should be very scared, and if their families are not willing to distance themselves from the filth they are related to, they should fear as well.; Reply to this comment


by gunnyh1 December 2, 2009 2:47 PM EST: Do not be too severe upon the errors of the people, but reclaim them by enlightening them.
Thomas Jefferson

The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom.
Thomas Jefferson; Reply to this comment


by bciss December 2, 2009 2:20 PM EST: Well when one is involved with one of the biggest grandest and most wicked organized crime syndicates. One that has operated with virtually no counter balance and no knowledge for the average person of what they actually do,,for decades. It can get a little uncomfortable and concerning when the masses began to wake up and pay attention. Since it is ultimately the last thing the self proclaimed "masters of the universe" want.

They have banked on people not connecting the dots and believing in the basic good of people, especially those in power. Well dots are getting connected and it paints an ugly,ugly picture of corruption from the highest offices of Wall St to Washington.

It also helps that people begin to disabuse themselves of the illusion that all people are basically good. Psychopaths of the literal kind, not the movie kind are running the show. The psychopaths in jail are the failed ones. The ones like Cheney and these bankers, they are the success. They are the wolf minding the hen house. They have been for some time. Their greed has driven them to untold wealth and cruelty. The greed for money and power, but above all control of others. It will also drive them to destruction. They arm themselves because they sense the tide might turn and they will have to alter their approach. But they still are incapable of seeing their failure, actually a rather useful weakness if you are paying attention.; Reply to this comment


by gunnyh1 December 2, 2009 2:00 PM EST: And our illustrious Congress and President STILL have done NOTHING to stop the the bankers from ripping off every consumer in this country on a daily basis. In 1907 side-betting/speculating was OUTLAWED due to it causing the 1907 stock market crash . In 2000 as a lame duck president Clinton quietly signed the bill allowing it again. The end result? ...our crashed economy. Every gallon of gas sold right now puts at least ONE dollar into the bankers' collective "pocket". If our politicians continue to ignore this issue then they ALL need to be ran out of office ...but they seem to think the entire population is just plain ignorant and cannot make decisions for themselves...while they fill their campaign funds with the bankers' donations. This is nothing but CRIMINAL. Congress needs a good long flushing and it is way past time to pull the handle!!!!; Reply to this comment


by Constitionalist December 2, 2009 1:31 PM EST: So what, they have a gun. We are many and have many guns. Thank god (or the NRA) that we still have that right despite the libs' attempts to destroy the rights of the american people.; Reply to this comment


by january53 December 2, 2009 1:23 PM EST: goldman sachs is the perfect corporate example of greed. they should be scared, very scared. greedy, corporate pigs. they make me sick.; Reply to this comment