The Sorcerer's Apprentice

This is a very old tale about the unforeseen consequences of hubris, believing that partial knowledge is adequate and general ineptitude is of no importance. 

Possibly the best known version of this tale is the poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, written in 1797. This tells of a sorcerer’s apprentice who is meant to carry out various tasks while the sorcerer himself is temporarily absent. 

While cleaning, the apprentice becomes tired of carrying pails of water. So he uses his (limited) powers to enchant a broom to carry out the work. 

The trouble begins when the apprentice doesn’t know how to stop the broom. He tries to stop the broom by splitting it in half but the two halves now increase the speed of their activities by carrying in so much water that the room is flooded.

Fortunately the sorcerer returns and breaks the spell. 

The moral of the story is that only masters, with the requisite knowledge, should invoke powerful forces.

Goethe’s version is a possible rewrite of a very similar ancient Roman story narrated by Lucian (about 140 CE) that follows a similar theme which emphasises the power of magic or technology turning against the insufficiently wise or knowledgeable person invoking it.  

Now, in today’s world with technology of previously unimaginable power, Man’s moral and ethical capabilities to harness it for the good of the World in general is found to be wanting or so I believe. 

These old tales are worth recalling. I think particularly of the “World’s” response to the inescapable effects of changes to the climate brought about largely through the unfettered use of fossil fuels. 

The use of these fuels are supported because they are “good for the economy”, therefore are to be considered as “good” for all. Especially for the wealthy – the shareholders that invest in the companies that produce or use these fuels. 

It apparently matters not that “science” informs us all that the environment, the “world” that supports all we know, is being damaged at an ever increasing rate.

Ignore the science - it’s all about “money” you see!  

The trouble is that if the environment is damaged further, it will become increasingly difficult for life in general to exist. Only then will it become apparent that without people (and all that supports life on Earth), there will be no money, no companies to invest in and no shareholders demanding ever increasing dividends from evermore profitable companies. 

To me, it is blindingly obvious that PEOPLE and the ENVIRONMENT that supports all Life forms should be the focus of all – not money, however useful this may be in certain circumstances. 

Now, today, we have the COVID19 virus that is roiling the “economies” of all countries and killing thousand of people. The astonishing difference in the response is that “science” is apparently now paramount in informing us how to contend with this devastating outbreak.    

The blatant hypocrisy evident in this about face is extraordinary.

The “economy” is going to suffer you see! Simple.

Bank Ethics (and trust).

I feel that I may (repeat may) possibly have had a small influence in the Australian Banks decision to "allow" a Banking Royal Commission - I'm not boasting mind!! Some weeks ago I wrote to the Australian Bankers Association and I offer this contribution for those interested to read:-

The Chief Executive Officer

Australian Bankers' Association
Level 3, 56 Pitt Street,
Sydney. NSW 2000

Dear Ms Bligh,

Re: Bank Ethics (and trust).

I am sure I need not remind you that it is obvious, not just to me, that the lack of ethics and morals evidenced by banks in Australia needs to be addressed. Banks, ALL banks, direct their activities at preserving and protecting shareholders, their “market position”, their liquidity and their profitability, with SERVICE and the poor old CUSTOMER way down the list of priorities.

We have had, in the recent past, the terrible social effects of the blatant greed and moral shortcomings evidenced by Wall Street banks in 2007-2008, (the GFC); we have had the LIBOR scandal in London; we have seen many billions of dollars in penalties paid by banks world-wide for aiding and abetting questionable financial transactions - now it is the Australian banks falling foul of the regulators, the public and politicians.

So far all four of Australia’s biggest banks have allegedly been guilty of breaching laws and regulations set by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The banks have been variously accused of defrauding customers through questionable investment advice and dodgy insurance cover, rigging the Inter Bank Rate, lacking moral judgment and generally being unethical in their dealing with their customers money.

I will reiterate what I have said before, many times, that without customers (people) there would be no money, no need for banks and therefore by default, no need for shareholders. Money is not “self-emergent” – it is a human construct.

Pursuing the logic of this it would appear to be a “no brainer” that customers (i.e. people), are the vital part of the banking system, not just in Australia but world-wide. It should be a simple case of “look after the customer” first and foremost, legally, ethically and with moral undertaking. Do this and the money will look after itself. And what is of utmost importance, trust in the banking system would be restored and banks would no longer invite opprobrium and be considered “bastards”.

This will require a cultural shift  - the “fiduciary culture” - by all concerned, starting with the boards of directors, chief executive officers and managers. Until all these people conduct themselves with ethical and moral underpinnings nothing will change.

Unfortunately, for all concerned, until there are changes, banks will continue to be mistrusted and reviled.

I will be very interested in any response you may offer.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Campbell-Watt

No matter what – banks are still bastards!

It is not just me complaining about the lack of ethics and morals evidenced by banks in Australia. Australian politicians are now supporting what I have been saying for a long time, and it is unfortunately all too true. Banks, ALL banks, direct their activities at preserving and protecting shareholders, their “market position”, their liquidity and their profitability, with SERVICE and the poor old CUSTOMER way down the list of priorities.

We have had, in the recent past, the terrible social effects of the blatant greed evidenced by Wall Street banks in 2007-2008; we have had the LIBOR scandal in London; we have seen many billions of dollars in penalties paid by banks world wide for aiding and abetting questionable  activities and money transfers - now it is the Australian banks falling foul of the regulators.

So far all four of Australia’s biggest banks, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ), National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac (and some of the smaller ones) have allegedly been guilty of breaching laws and regulations set by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). They have been variously accused of defrauding customers through questionable investment advice and dodgy insurance cover, rigging the Inter Bank Rate, lacking moral judgment and generally being unethical in their dealing with their customers money.

I will reiterate what I have said, many times before – without customers (people) there would be no money, no need for banks and therefore by default no need for shareholders.

Pursuing the logic of this it would appear to be a “no brainer” that customers – i.e. people, are the vital part of the banking system, not just in Australia but world wide. It should be a simple case of “look after the customer” first and foremost, legally, ethically and with moral undertaking. Do this and the money will look after itself. And what is of utmost importance, trust in the banking system would be restored and banks would no longer invite opprobrium and be considered “bastards”.

This will require a cultural shift  - their “fiduciary culture” - by all concerned, starting with the boards of directors, chief executive officers and managers. Until these people conduct banking with ethical and moral underpinnings nothing will change.

Unfortunately, for all concerned, until they do change and adopt customer best practice they will continue to be mistrusted.

Banks are still bastards!

Well! Well! Well! Here we go again. An Australian bank, again, accused of fraud, greed and extracting money, by any and all means possible, from unsuspecting customers. I am writing specifically about the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) – Australia’s biggest bank.

When will banks learn that their first duty (repeat first duty) is to provide the best service they can to their customers, not, (repeat not) to shareholders or other stakeholders.

Bank’s must remember at all times, and never forget, that money comes from people, their customers – individual, commercial and industrial. There is no other source of money. Money was developed by people for people to facilitate trade. Banks, as we recognise them today, did not appear until about six centuries ago, with the Venetians.

Without customers (people) there would be no money and, by default, no need for banks. It would seem very obvious to me that the primary concern of any bank should be its customers. This is called “service” – a term that has been all but forgotten.

For any bank and in particular Australia’s largest bank (the CBA), to so fail in its fiduciary duty to its customers as to stand guilty of fraud and general mismanagement of its financial investment division is almost beyond belief.

That the regulatory authorities in the guise of the Australian Investments and Securities Commission (ASIC) were so dilatory in their duty as to allow this to happen, is again, almost beyond belief.

For those who may not have followed the recent revelation about the CBA it is a fact that thousands of trusting customers have lost their life savings – hundreds of millions of dollars – through questionable advice offered by questionable bank staff  advising customers to invest in questionable financial schemes. And to top it all some records apparently have been altered, forged or lost so it is unclear as to exactly how many customers have been defrauded and  exactly how much money is involved.

That other banks are involved in similar schemes will become clearer in due course.

But the fault, in this instance, lies squarely with the bank (the CBA), its management and general culture of greed and seeking profit at all costs without any regard for the consequences. How apposite is the old saying in this case - “the biter bit”!

I reckon the old Australian term, “banks are bastards” is still very much alive and still very valid!

(Amended 24/07/2014)