Enron Deserves Our Thanks (by Bill White)

[Kenda]

In These Challenging Times, Enron Deserves Our Thanks
Houston Chronicle, October 28, 2001

By BILL WHITE

Enron and its employees have blessed Houston, and many Houstonians should now take the time to say “thanks” when the company has experienced some highly publicized challenges.

Enron attracted thousands of great people to Houston and changed Houston’s economy forever. The company’s management encouraged their employees to be active citizens, and those folks responded by making a big difference in their community.

Enron’s lead in shaping a nationwide market for electricity gave birth to a multibillion-dollar new industry, with Houston as its hub. Even while it competed hard to win in the marketplace, Enron’s example helped show other natural gas pipeline and trading firms how to move into the even bigger market of electricity.

This explosive growth attracted bright young people — and they in turn helped fuel an explosion in residential growth in Houston’s downtown. This, in turn, helped revitalize downtown’s retail and restaurant scene. Enron’s construction of a large Class A office tower, still going up, is a milestone in Houston’s growth, an official end to more than a decade of large amounts of vacant office space.

Enron’s corporate success reflects the stories of so many of its employees who have lived the American dream. Enron rewarded innovation, while many firms afraid to alter the old formula wondered why their leadership eroded. Year after year, top executives throughout the country voted Enron our nation’s most innovative corporation. Enron recognized, even when financial markets do not, that innovative firms are secure enough to accept occasional failure and the inevitable price of other successes.

And so if Enron experiences problems, it will learn from them, just as strong people do. Let’s not prejudge Enron’s current challenges.

The more than a decade of my life that was dedicated to trying cases against companies who hurt consumers and investors taught me both to insist on the truth but never to jump to premature conclusions based on a headline or a news story.

Throughout its years of success, Enron folks have never forgotten to find so many ways to make the firm’s hometown of Houston a better place to live and work. As Enron enters a new phase of its life, let’s not forget to express thanks and steady support.

http://www.enron-mail.com/email/sali...etter_210.html

http://www.masterresource.org/2010/1...-enron-thanks/

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by Kenda

http://www.enron-mail.com/email/sali...etter_210.html

http://www.masterresource.org/2010/1...-enron-thanks/

But he's not Rick Perry, so nothing in his past is important.

[GRIZZLYMAN]

I'm just curious how much information about Enron's true financial condition was available when this was op piece was written since the first hints of it came out in October. If I remember correctly, it was a couple of month's later that Arthur Anderson got fired and the true story came out.

Not defending White, but I'm not sure that if I was his position I wouldn't have taken the position of "innocent until proven guilty".

[NJtoFrisco]

Was White pals with "Kenny Boy" Lay?

[Kenda]

Originally Posted by NJtoFrisco

Was White pals with "Kenny Boy" Lay?

Yes.

[NJtoFrisco]

Then apparently his judgment was as good as George W. Bush's (?)

[TXJohn1117]

Originally Posted by NJtoFrisco

Then apparently his judgment was as good as George W. Bush's (?)

So that means that you would have voted against White if you still were here in Texas?

[GRIZZLYMAN]

Both the Republicans and Democrats, and both Perry and White took donations from Enron executives, so it would be hypocritical for either to throw stones at the other, but I'm sure y'all will anyway.

[Invader]

This article appeared in the March 4, 2002 edition of The Nation.

http://www.thenation.com/article/how-enron-did-texas

Governor Rick Perry has taken more than $227,075 from the company, including a $25,000 check from Ken Lay delivered the day after Perry appointed a former Enron executive, Max Yzaguirre, to head the Texas Public Utility Commission.

Time to pray for RAIN (Replace All Incumbents Now)

[NJtoFrisco]

Originally Posted by TXJohn1117

So that means that you would have voted against White if you still were here in Texas?

Since both candidates have a history with Enron the issue kind of cancels itself out. Since I knew I was moving I really didn't look into White so I don't know who I'd have voted for.