Companies that vanished: Arthur Andersen succumbs to the lure of big money

Like the sign in the attached picture says 85,000(actually about 87,990 of 88,000) NOT GUILTY. I WAS Arthur Andersen. I was not involved with audit nor did I work in Houston. I did lose my job though thanks to David Duncan and everyone in a direct line upstream between he and Joe Beradino. I will never recoup the 11 months of unemployment which followed.

Oh, one other thing the federal prosecution of the firm itself which the US DOJ knew would precipitate the downfall of the firm itself and the loss of the 88,000 jobs was brought to you by Michael Chertoff, the current Director of Homeland Security who also brought you the Hurrican Katrina response fiasco and who also holds responsibility for our defense against terrorism. Feel safer now ?

I think in this recession, more companies will go out of business than did in 2000-2002. For this thing to be cleaned out--a lot of home builders will have to go out of business. I write about it at @
www.theinvestingspeculator.com

In 1969 I applied to A.A. for an accounting position.I wanted that job in Chicago more than anything else. The interview was 4 hours long that included a psychological test. I waited 2 long weeks for the devastating news. My qualifications were impecable, but, they said I probably should check out the mental hospital in my area. My psycho test said I was COOKOO! My father was a child molester (me), my mother was murdered when I was 5. One sister died in my arms from a drug overdose, a brother also died from drugs and alcohol poisoning. I went into business for myself, moved to Las Vegas in 1980. Now I'm a dealer and play blackjack and pai gow poker. (always tip your dealer). I laughed so hard when this table of cards collapsed, because... the last thing I said during my interview was; I would be a whisleblower if I found any fraudulent practices. Life is GOOD!

I went to work for Arthur Andersen's Boston office in 1957. At the time AA had only 26 offices, our office had only 4 partners. The partner-in-charge, Wlater Oliphant, had been a close associate of old Mr. Andersen himself and then went on to become the firm's managing partner. Integrity was the byword then, incessantly drummed into the heads of us junior staff members. What a disgrace that that once-fine firm was ultimately prostituted by greed!

WELL IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN, HAVE WE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING? YET THESE LAST 8 YEARS HAS ALMOST DESTROYED OUR COUNTRY AND WE PLAN ON PUTTING ANOTHER BUSH CLONE IN TO FINISH IT OFF.......SAD AMERICA ARE WE TO COMPLACENT TO WAKE UP OUT OF OUR DEEP SLEEP?

FOLLOW YOUR HEART YOUR GUT INSTINCT, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

I worked at 69 W. Washington, world HQ in 1968. Now I practice law at 77 W. Washington in Chicago. I went next door to the Cook County Public Guardian's office last month. Imagine my surprise. There were the trademark big brown doors, propped open and looking a bit shabby. It broke my heart. I have fond memories of Arthur. I used to know the head of the Chicago office, but cannot remember his name. Can anyone help? He was a cohort of Arthur himself, and was rather old back in 1968. I guess I am the same now. Arthur, we knew you well.

Arthur Anderson was my great-uncle. He was a man of highest integrity. If he had still been in charge, there wouldn't have been an "Enron". He also would not have had unethical partners. He was a man of honor and helped many young people through college. I am sure he has turned over in his grave many times!