Fortune reported on a recent CEO gathering where private positions are much different than public statements. These are mostly members of Trump's political Red Team. The article stated:
Business leaders at our forum worry that Trump is undermining an economic system that took decades to build and has long benefited the U.S. more than any other country, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, all for short-term gains. They see what’s happening as a hollowing out of U.S. economic foundations and institutions. In this free-to-speak environment (a loaded topic these days), they said that while they approve of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and bolstering economic and national security, they fear for America’s international standing amid the degradation of national security at the FBI, the CIA, and the Pentagon.
As for hollowing out, many of us remember the impact of a private equity underwriter (PEU) takeover and its impact on our company. Flashback to July 2011 when a major business reporter wrote:
I have seen so many people -- particularly those in their 50s - 70s -- taken apart by what has happened in their industry as greed has hollowed out the economy. These are people took pride in their jobs and held themselves to this invisible standard that we all just took for granted, but is being wiped out.
The Carlyle Group scares me more than anything I've ever seen on Wall Street. It seems to exist to corrupt politicians and it's hard to know who they even represent.
That has occurred thousands of times for thousands of companies over the last fifteen years. Private equity's reach, money and influence penetrated both political parties to the point I began closing posts with:
Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and increasingly, more are one.
When the TechGods jumped on board and executed the PEU political playbook I adapted:
Politicians Red & Blue love PEU and their new TechGod brethren. Increasingly, more are one.
Six months ago I wrote:
At some point TechGod wankers and PEU bankers will beg to pay more in taxes just to be away from Trump's toxic tampering, grandiose delusions, vicious takedowns and vacuous flip-flops.
That day may already have arrived. If so, it's a kick in the ballroom for the Trump brand.
