TruthSavvy.

Wall Street could learn a few things from the Tiger Woods apology on February 19. Wood’s detailed apology is an important step toward a gradual rehabilitation of his image. Nevertheless, the healing will not be easy. Nor should it be. People who commit grand larceny often receive heavy fines and spend considerable time in prison. Woods faces the prison of public opinion as well as the loss of endorsement revenue. He stole a lot from his wife, kids and supporters. He is deserving of his reward.

Has America lost its soul? Is America too immoral and shortsighted to allow prudent capitalism to work properly? (Yes.) Is the Canadian hedge fund manager, Erick Sprott correct that the U.S. government is now a “dead man walking,” with central bank intervention the main dynamic that allows the U.S. Treasury to roll over government debt at low interest rates? (Marketwatch, Oct. 20, 2009).

It pays to look at where we’ve been if we’re to understand where we’re going. The U.S. stock market bottomed in the first week of March 2009, beginning a vigorous bounce in the month’s second week. By late March a breeching of the midterm downtrend line suggested significant changes in store. Nevertheless, most members of the general public thought the March rally was nothing more than a dead cat bounce.

Purportedly, President Obama may attempt to shift the focus of the G20 summit from banking improprieties to a rebalancing of trade. While a restructuring of trade is important, Obama is out-of-step with the American public if he diverts attention from the need to cap bank bonuses, heighten scrutiny of hedge funds, and corral the shadow banking system. Recent reports of a power regrowth in the investment banking sector lend support to this concern.

In September, 1901, Vice-President Teddy Roosevelt uttered his memorable adage, “speak softly but carry a big stick.” Shortly thereafter, President McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist, making TR at age 42 America’s 26th president. As president he failed to speak softly at times but did carry an executive bludgeon. His legacy still shines because he swatted at the insolence of his own party as well as Democratic interests. Our current president would do well to consider Teddy Roosevelt’s example in matters of economic justice.

President Obama's financial regulatory reforms will bring positive, meaningful changes to the way Wall Street does business. For this he should be commended. Nevertheless, the reforms fail to do enough, are not suitably instrumented, and sidestep systemic change. The reforms serve to affirm Wall Street's position, increasing the odds that Wall Street's grip over America will continue. This means more elitism and less true justice. The wealth and power gap between working Americans and the privileged elites of Manhattan Island will remain unjustifiably wide.

We are long overdue for a national town hall meeting on Goldman Sachs — with or without Goldman executives. Wealthy Wall Street elites take for granted a dragon-like right to trample the vast working public. Their right claim is based upon the notion that capitalism gives the massively monied the privilege of shaping financial laws. Injustice to these people means not getting their own way at the expense of nonaligned others. A national town hall is needed to challenge, overcome and replace these distortions of capitalism.

David Callaway is right: This nation needs more than grilled millionaire on the menu. While intelligent reforms to executive compensation are essential — sweeping reforms and not mere dabbling — we must do more than audit the menu. It is time to reform the discriminatory nature of the meal club as well. Compensation guidelines are not enough. We must alter the means by which investment rewards in public markets are acquired.

Will the current bounce last? Will analysts keep setting the bar low to help stocks rise? Will beating bad numbers remain the game by which stocks are priced? The future level of stock market indices cannot be predicted because the calculations that will go into future market manipulations are yet unmade.

In recent times David Weidner, MarketWatch commentator, has written some truly thought-provoking essays about Wall Street. In several articles he courageously challenges the accepted market ethic, prodding market participants to find higher standards and better practices. Admirably, Mr. Weidner does not shelter the wrong-doings of the Street. His recommendations provide plausible ways forward at a time when regulators need a fresh vision.