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Sunday, March 16, 2008

In the News - A Week in March, 2008








simulation



Two things of significance happened during this week. The first was the resignation of the governor of New York State, Eliot Spitzer. It seems that Mr. Spitzer was a crusading prosecutor who made his name, and eventually led to his election as governor by going after a number of people who were active in, among other things, the sex business. He called himself a steamroller, so ruthless was he in taking down prominent people, that he felt he deserved his nickname.

But the governor had a secret. He probably had many secrets, but they are now coming out in the open. While he was busy taking down accused people and earning his reputation, it seems that he was doing the same types of things. This man held the public’s trust while at the same time thumbing his nose. How arrogant was that?

There are an awful lot of people rejoicing at his downfall. Parties will be in full swing for many weeks to come. His fall from grace is expected to be only the beginning. There will be the inevitable lawsuits, the books, the movie. Where can he go to hide? He said something about healing his marriage. What marriage is that? As they say in New York, “For-ged-about-eet!

His greatest sin, it seems, was in paying for sex with prostitutes. In this regard, America is centuries behind Europe. There are countries in Europe where if you are not paying for sex with prostitutes you are not doing your part in upholding the local economy. America is still puritan by comparison. Europe has forged so far ahead in a healthy attitude to the naked body and to sex. In some places, it’s illegal to have sex on the street, but not absolutely everywhere. But, in the main, the attitude is, please, everybody, have sex.

Mr. Spitzer is having his Karma. Maybe he didn’t believe in it before, but I bet he does now. Whatever happens will be his just desserts, but I would like to ask the next big shot who gets caught with his pants down one thing: Will you leave your poor wife home. Please don’t drag her before the cameras so that we get to see the face of a very embarrassed and disappointed person. It’s been done.

However, in the event my request is ignored I would like to see the following happen: When you are done delivering your ridiculous statement, and you’re about to leave the microphones, that’s when I would like to see your wife step up and say to the astonished press and world: “Did you, Ladies and gentlemen, really think I came here to be further humiliated in person and in silence? The real reason why I’m here is to speak my peace, which is as follows……..


Financial Settlement between Sir Paul McCartney and Heather:

It has been reported that an agreement has been reached finally in that Heather is to receive Fifty Million pounds as a full and final settlement to wind up the marriage. I’m writing this as a follow-up to an earlier title of mine, which was, speaking about divorce financial settlements: “ Is 50% always Fair?”

There have been some very messy splits and some astronomical amounts awarded to the spouse that didn’t hold the purse strings. We read these accounts, and our mouths drop open and the debates begin as to how could she, usually she, but it could just as easily be a he, be worth it?

What did our Heather do to warrant a payday of ₤50 million? Well, probably nothing. She didn’t do the dishes; she didn’t have to cook; didn’t do laundry; didn’t do anything worth ₤50 million. The only thing she did do was to make love to her husband and to make him happy, but I doubt that a price tag has been calculated using that as a formula. At least I hope not!

It all comes down to what is reasonable and fair when the split comes, and what the one with the purse can afford to share. In this case she has been introduced to a standard of living that the Courts feel she is entitled to continue to enjoy. This is only newsworthy because there is so much money involved. But in the real world, settlements happen every day and nobody is happy. Ruin for all concerned is the result of the disaster that is the marriage break-up. In many cases it would appear that the wife and children get the best of the deal, and for sure, some men go into absolute penury as a result.

None of that gets reported, only the really huge awards do because of the shock value and envy. Usually the one with the purse still gets to hold on to more than enough to continue living well. But the real question for Sir Paul and Heather is: “What now?”

Copyright © 2008 Eugene Carmichael