Things I do not Understand

Why US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice was forced out of consideration for Secretary of State based on her conveying incorrect information given her by the administration about a matter that was trivial and highly politicized.

Why people are shocked that when we drop American citizens into incredibly hostile environments they sometimes get killed or attacked, as in  our embassies and consulates.

Why the United States is negotiating about keeping any troops at all in Afghanistan after 2014; or after say next Tuesday for that matter.

Why banks accept penalties in amounts that begin with the letter “B” unless they are clearly culpable (these numbers do not support the argument that it is cheaper to pay the future costs of a long fight with a present fine than to contest matters, divert resources, etc.).

Why virtually every major bank has been hit in the last year with huge penalties for an upsetting list of infractions, indicating a total moral decay at the highest levels of our business world, although at the same time every banker you meet (or at least I meet) has proven to be ethical and straightforward.

Why the SEC is just waking up to the porous protections inherent in 10b5-1 stock trading plans, which as a matter of simple analysis are subject to abuse by inherent design, allowing executives to alter plans at will although the plans are designed to make stock transactions automatic based on timing or market forces and thus deny the executive the temptation to use inside information in trading shares.

Why, if as rumored business has co-opted all politicians, and if business is demanding resolution of the cliff, the politicians cannot seem to solve the problem and thus deliver the result their owners have demanded.

Why Congress on its own does not solve the cliff, given that virtually every American wants it solved —  unless Congress knows it must increase taxes and cut spending and cynically believes that if those results occur “automatically” then their personal reelection will be eased by the argument that “I didn’t vote to increase taxes and cut your benefits, it just happened.”

Why the Red Sox are so enamored with spending $13 Million per year per player that they just did it again, committing that approximate sum to buy a 35 year old fifth starter.

Why the Red Sox think it is okay to spend my money that way (today being the day that season ticket payments are due, thus affording the Team free use of my money for about four months before they are obligated to start delivering product to me).

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