Yesterday, the NY Times published an op-ed written by former Golman-Sachs executive Greg Smith, which was basically his public letter of resignation. The piece read in part:
TODAY is my last day at Goldman Sachs. After almost 12 years at the firm — first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London — I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.
To put the problem in the simplest terms, the interests of the client continue to be sidelined in the way the firm operates and thinks about making money. Goldman Sachs is one of the world’s largest and most important investment banks and it is too integral to global finance to continue to act this way. The firm has veered so far from the place I joined right out of college that I can no longer in good conscience say that I identify with what it stands for.
The piece made headlines and inspired an almost-instant Star Wars parody, perhaps the only internet humor genre more played out than mashing up two TV shows (seriously, f*cking stop), or Sh*t ___s Say videos (at least with Downfall-Hitler or LOL Cats, part of the point is that it’s played out). The amazing thing is about this Star Wars parody is that it’s actually pretty funny. It’s called “Why I’m Leaving the Empire,” by Darth Vader.
TODAY is my last day at the Empire.
After almost 12 years, first as a summer intern, then in the Death Star and now in London, I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its massive, genocidal space machines. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.
To put the problem in the simplest terms, throttling people with your mind continues to be sidelined in the way the firm operates and thinks about making people dead.
The Empire is one of the galaxy’s largest and most important oppressive regimes and it is too integral to galactic murder to continue to act this way. The firm has veered so far from the place I joined right out of Yoda College that I can no longer in good conscience point menacingly and say that I identify with what it stands for.
How did we get here? The Empire changed the way it thought about leadership. Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and killing your former mentor with a light sabre. Today, if you make enough money you will be promoted into a position of influence, even if you have a disturbing lack of faith. [TheDailyMash]
Anyway, check out the whole thing over at TheDailyMash, it’s pretty great. Now quick, someone make a Downfall parody where Hitler yells at his cats about Shit ___ Says Videos not being funny anymore. I’m suddenly full of hope that it will work.
[Vader Dog via About.com]