by Joseph Roberts

It is a strange phenomenon when you work in the media you think you know a lot. But it wasn’t until I watched the film Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room that I had any idea of the scope and size of the business scandal. Vast numbers of people, governments, bankers, lawyers, accountants, employees and shareholders conspired, or ignored their responsibility, causing such worldwide deception. Knowing this particular bit of recent corporate history, puts what is at stake here in BC and Canada in perspective. I watched the movie again last week using the DVD’s bonus feature with the director’s explaining why he chose specific shots, music and other aspects that make the film work well. When he was first approached to direct the project he was not at all interested in making a movie about accounting. But after reading the book, he got engrossed by how human nature played itself out. He realized that it was a story about people with different ethics and desires whose roles in this highs takes drama, brought some ultimately to their death, while thousand of others were financially ruined.
So what does Enron have to do with our Canadian lives? Plenty. BC is part of the continental energy grid. We are unwittingly in their game. To understand this you really do need to see the DVD or read the book Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room. Much of the energy and utilities deregulation, and accompanying graft of public funds continues. Some of the Enron executives or consultants who bailed out before the Enron crash are alive and well, they just changed horses in midstream.
Certain Enron executives, companies and accountants convicted of crimes contributing towards the biggest bankruptcy scandal in America, are by law not allowed to practise in California. Some of these people or their associates are influencing deal makers in BC to dismantle our finest vertically integrated public corporation, BC Hydro, and leave it vulnerable to NAFTA challenges.
We have been told for the last three decades that less government is better and no government is best But what is more accurate is that we need less corrupt government, and more good honest open government that looks after the interests of our communities and the public resources we all own. Anything less than that is unacceptable.
Borrow the Enron DVD from your library, or buy or rent the movie. Then tell your friends to watch it.