Swindlers
In high school, I listened to a podcast about Charles Ponzi, which sparked my interest in finance, regulation, and how economic systems can be manipulated. As a finance major with interests in government, I have always been drawn to the structural side of Ponzi schemes. This is why it was curious to me that Ponzi tried to cover his tracks by describing his operation as selling International Reply Coupons. That was a fact that I was unaware of, and I am surprised he could not come up with a more convincing lie. I would align integrity as one of my core values, which is why the Ponzi scheme and other exploitative acts fascinate and disturb me. I often find myself wondering where the root of that deception comes from and how someone can become comfortable intentionally harming others for personal gain. Does it stem from childhood trauma, greed, or cluelessness about the impact they are having? I also find Bernie Madoff’s story fascinating and think it is interesting how Ponzi left a leg...