Crime, or, business as usual: Madoff

It appears that Bernard Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme wasn't large or complex enough to be legitimized within Wall Street and the legal system. Whereas the major players in the multi-trillion sub-prime mortgage backed securities scandal, aided by infinitely complex capital-accruing algorithms masking any attempt at black and white legal interpretation, were rewarded with $700 billion to patch the myriad of holes in their flat tires, Bernie's comparatively simplistic scheme did not earn him so much as a get ouf of jail free card.

Apparently, being a former NASDAQ president and having a hiccup-free scam for 50 years just does not cut it any more. It certainly was good enough when the SEC somehow opted not to investigate Madoff's fund despite receiving credible complaints for over a decade. But this is the 21st century now, and unless you employ a hundred thousand Ivy League grads and hand them a billion in bonuses, bankrupting Jewish charities will land your ass in jail; by not earning the respect and protection of the government, it appears that even those who withdrew their money early could face action on their gains. Give the guy some credit though, he out-Ponzied the government of Albania.