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Goldman's Blankfein Is 'Doing God's Work'

A look behind the scenes at the omnipresent bank

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2009 2:34 PM CST

(Newser) – Lloyd Blankfein likes to say he's "attained perfection," a plausible-sounding assertion now that Goldman Sachs has repaid its TARP funds and is dishing out mammoth bonuses. "I don’t want to put a cap on their ambition," the CEO says of his employees. "It’s hard for me to argue for a cap on their compensation." After visiting their inner sanctum at 85 Broad St., John Arlidge of London's Sunday Times offers a field guide to "the biggest swinging dicks in the financial jungle."

Below his populist veneer, Blankfein is unapologetic about Goldman's contributions to the financial meltdown. "I know I could slit my wrists and people would cheer," he acknowledges. That might include his underlings, who endure a brutal hiring process before submitting to a corporate culture that leaves almost no time for a personal life, never mind vacation. At least you get to keep your sense of humor: "We don’t club baby seals," says one employee. "We club babies."

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Lloyd C. Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, speaks at a luncheon on gender equality and empowerment of women at United Nations headquarters, Sept. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/David Karp)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 15 comments

Pragmaticrealism

Nov 9, 2009 12:14 PM CST

Vice, you're f*ed up, at least according to biggest joke on the newser message boards.

bewilderbeast

Nov 9, 2009 9:26 AM CST

Parasites for sure. And when the parasites get so powerful that THEY WRITE THE RULES, the world is in deep trouble. "Free Enterprise" my ass. These thieving liars do NOT believe in free enterprise, they believe in grossly unfair theft of all they can steal from the people. And right now they're busy writing the new rules which (they say) will "protect the people against another meltdown". In fact they will CAUSE another meltdown. Bubbles is the only way they know to move huge wealth their way. And when bubbles pop, everyone gets hurt - EXCEPT THEM.

hybrid

Nov 9, 2009 6:21 AM CST

@OG travis Hey smarty do you know what the chinese system is or do you just like the thought of it always being capit vs comu....try having a complete thought before just tossing out words...thankyou

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Goldman's Blankfein Is 'Doing God's Work'