On Scuminess & Suicide Of Freddie Mac Chief

Rebukes are easy from our betters,
From men of quality and letters;
But when low dunces will affront,
What man alive can stand the brunt?

Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745

Beware. These are darkly crooked times. Know the demands of associates and be able to serve their orders... or exit.

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David Kellermann, the acting chief financial officer of Freddie Mac was found dead in his home in Vienna, Virginia. He is the victim of an apparent suicide... and perhaps more.

The 41-year-old Kellermann was appointed acting CFO at Freddie Mac in September, 2008, just after the US government took over the quasi-governmental mortgage company. Kellerman had worked at Freddie Mac since starting as an analyst/auditor in 1992.

Freddie Mac reported a 2008 net loss of $50.1 billion. It reported a 2007 net loss of $3.1 billion.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Justice Department are investigating Freddie Mac's accounting processes. Freddie Mac received a federal grand jury subpoena in September 2008. The subpoena requests documents relating to accounting, disclosure and corporate governance affairs.

Not all the facts are known in this incident. However it is possible to draw some inferences and extrapolate into our own lives. We do not know Kellermann's role. But we should examine our own role and limits.

Some people cannot take severe pressure. Not everyone is a crook. Some people are built of character that precludes their acting in ways demanded by associates or the positions that they rise to.

Nearly everyone will get scummy when messing with scummy people.

These days we must each beware of with whom we cavort and what we will do when the order comes making it our turn to scum up. Those not up to the call can be left with few options.

Scum behavior -- whether initiated by, provoked into, or followed under order -- can be lethal. And so it should be for all who embark down these dark roads.