Book Review of "The Tao of Enron" by Chris Seay

Book Review of
The Tao of Enron
by Chris Seay
with contributing author Chris Bryan

Book review by Bill Schaeffer

copyright (c) 2013, 2018
William Schaeffer

p. 87

"The sight of investigators, our attorney general, and various members of Congress recusing themselves from hearing on Enron -- or admitting to receiving large contributions from Enron -- sobered us all. Then-Governor George W. Bush counted Kenneth Lay as one of his most enthusiastic supporters; Lay hopped on the bush-for-President bandwagon before it had wheels. And Lay and Enron have remained Bush's largest single donor to this point in his political career.

Nevertheless, that financial support didn't ultimately save Enron -- the Bush administration rightly ignored Lay's calls for a last minute bailout -- but it did buy the company incredible access and policy influence. At the time of this writing, investigators are still seeking Vice President Cheney's records of meetings with energy moguls where the Bush energy policy (heavy on deregulation and fossil fuels, light on conservation and alternative energy) got hammered out.

What kind of nation do we live in, I wonder, when industry lobbyists and tycoons can actively shape the writing of legislation that will govern their industries? To what have we descended when Wendy Gramm, wife of powerful Senator Phil Gramm (R, Texas), can serve on the board of Enron while the company makes huge contributions to her husband -- a man who will then vote on legislation concerning the company? What has happened when President Bush's chief advisor, Karl rove, can hold Enron stock while deliberating the energy policy Enron helped write?

Isn't it clear to us yet that such power is wrong, that it subverts democracy, that it leads to government by the wealthy for the wealthy? "

p. 123

"Workers dismantling Enron's London office, for example, found the following luxury items:
- an electric train set used to deliver bonuses to high-performing executives
- a high tech gym
- a ToneZone for aromatherapy, tanning, and beauty treatments
- pricey paintings and sculptures
- a thirty three foot maple veneer conference table inlaid with solid walnut
- marble covered garbage bins"

p. 125

"Until we Americans re-envision the role of business and wealth, we are doomed to repeat a series of disasters like what happened at Enron. And the fallout for most of us will not come in the form of the collapse of the seventh largest company in the United States of America; it will take shape in the collapse of marriages, families, and communities, and the suffering of children and other helpless victims across the planet -- all because of our selfish choices."

p. 131

"Representatives of the companies Jeff Skilling built gave a common recruiting response to those who might have felt some connection to a wife and perhaps children. Those who asked about time with family received a twofold response: (1) We pay so much more than you can make anywhere else that you'll be able to afford great vacations; and (2) If you expect more family time, go visit some of our competitors."

p. 156

"In 1995, 36.4 million Americans lived in poverty, according to the US Bureau of Census, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. Forty percent of these were children...

While the United States is one of the richest nations in the world, it ranks dead last (in percentage of GNP) among Western donors of foreign aid."

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