When accounting goes unaccounted for
“I did not expect actual, economic losses on the portfolio. That said, I was truthful at all times about the unrealized accounting losses and did my very best to estimate them accurately, in consultation with others at AIG-FP, as well as with my supervisors, AIG’s senior accounting staff, and its internal and external auditors.”
~ Joe Cassano, in his prepared testimony before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
“A client injured his wrists, so the doctor told him to keep his wrists elevated. […]
“We shouldn’t pretend we’re not a big company.”
~ Patrick Pichette, Google CFO.
“The honest way to raise more revenue would be to raise income tax rates. But it is more politically attractive to tax these kinds of things. No one can get mad at you for taxing people who drink too much.”
~ Peter L. Faber, tax attorney, on sin taxes.