More Comments on the Goldman Series

Question: Do you really consider the Follow-up on Front-Running piece true journalism? Or, is it possibly just gossip?

Do you consider using Goldman Sachs 2009 profit statements a perfect example of where that company always makes its money? [Ed. note: Watch Part I and Part II of our Goldman series.] Do you think that perhaps telling the audience that Goldman is a public company (and, therefore, its shareholders profit when the company profits) might be a good piece of information to share? I am really embarrassed by your pieces on PBS – surely you can convey more information and analysis. Or, maybe you could just find some good sources. Any chance you wanted to work at Goldman and they didn’t hire you sometime in your life? That’s what your pieces sound like. Sorry – you sounded like Fox in the lack of intellect in your pieces.

Paul Solman: Ah well. Just a few responses to your questions.

Yes, Goldman’s statements had damn well better be a perfect example of where that company makes its money. That’s what financial statements are FOR. Let’s hope this isn’t another Madoff, or Enron, or Greece.

Of course Goldman is a public company. That’s why it has to have publicly available financial statements. Of course its shareholders profit. The questions are: Do they do so because of the U.S. taxpayer? And because Goldman trades unfairly, due to its insider information?

And no, I never wanted to work at Goldman. I’ve been happy at PBS for 32 years.