In March , 2008 when some analysts were suggesting that the demise of Bear Stearns would lead to a change of attitudes on Wall Street, TED — the shorthand appellation the author uses — wrote, "I, for one, think these bankers will be even more motivated to rape and pillage the financial system in order to rebuild their ill-gotten gains".
Until the beginning of 2008, Lehman was regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which adopted a notoriously lax attitude to Wall Street firms taking on crazy amounts of debt.
"You can have that attitude of 'I paid my dues and you have to, too.' But that's exactly the kind of attitude that Wall Street is starting to realize is not an attitude that aids in retention".
This attitude flew in the face of Wall Street's bonus culture, in which employees have historically received most of their pay in bonuses that vary but are always significant regardless of how the shareholders fare.
But I think there's also a danger in adopting a completely bleak view of the possibility of reform, because it amplifies the danger that we'll adopt an attitude of learned helplessness toward Wall Street.
"Stunned is the word," Obama replied, then launched into a lengthy, wonkish description of how the insurance giant foundered and why the company bonuses symbolize the larger issue of Wall Street's "attitude of entitlement".
To judge by its mixed reviews, mildly disappointing box-office takings, and a minor controversy over its makers' ambivalent attitude to their subject, The Wolf of Wall Street won't be picking up all that many prizes this awards season.
This open attitude of refusing to build walls is not guaranteed….
Their self-titled, print-at-home zine fuses the crisp style of a young Joan Didion with the balls-to-the-wall attitude of a pre-prison Lil' Kim.
The "Expressions" series captures an athlete's attitude of breaking through "the metaphorical wall".
