In the course of my experiences with the Corporatism behaviour of Saskatchewan health care I have learnt the fundamental lesson that the only way to cope with an autocratic leadership is to let this same leadership chew their own words. And so today I want to show the potential criminal behaviour of Kenneth Lay, Chairman of Enron Corporation, and of his Enron's business and political friends, who while pocketing US $181.8 million in the year preceding Enron's bankruptcy on December 5, 2002 was saying to the employees:

our performance has never been stronger; our business model has never been more robust; and our growth has never been more certain (E-mail of August 14, 2001 from Ken Lay to Enron Employees Worldwide)

I would guess 10 years from now our net income will be four- to sixfold what it is today and our market cap will be eight to 10 times what it is today... I have strongly encouraged our... officers to buy additional Enron stock. Some, including myself, have done so over the last couple of months and others will probably do so in the future (Web chat of Ken Lay with his employees, September 26, 2001)

References:

Letter from Rep. Waxman (D - Ca.) to Enron Chairman and C.E.O. Kenneth Lay (Jan. 15, 2002) http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/enron/wxmn2lay011502ltr.pdf

Enron stock touted, despite warning. `An incredible bargain,' CEO told employees, From Herald Wire Services, January 19, 2002 http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/national/digdocs/052582.htm