NEW YORK, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It might be all the eggnog we have been drinking this week, or just the unbelievable irony of it all, but SEIU's folks at BehindtheBuyouts.org couldn't resist some idle speculation about what may have been going through David Rubenstein's head this week when he plunked down $21.3 million to buy the Magna Carta, one of the foundational documents of Western freedoms, human rights, and civil liberties. So, with all due respect to our striking brothers and sisters at the David Letterman Show, here are:
SEIU's Top Ten Reasons Why Carlyle Group Co-Founder David Rubenstein
Purchased the Magna Carta
1. That $21 mil was burning a hole in his pocket.
2. 13th century feudalism provides blueprint for personnel policies at
Manor Care and other Carlyle-owned companies.
3. After executing the expected dividend recapitalization at $1 million
per section he could triple his investment within the first six months.
4. Being called a nouveau billionaire doesn't carry same cache as the
term "medieval baron."
5. Prop to hold up at next Congressional hearing on tax breaks for
buyout billionaires.
6. Only way he can legally take an eraser to those pesky sections about
due process (while attempting to steamroll regulations designed to protect
nursing home residents).
7. Finding that perfect holiday gift is a *** when you are worth a
gazillion dollars.
8. Human rights charter is the perfect white elephant gift at the Abu
Dhabi Government's holiday party.
9. Can't wait to show his buyout industry buddies the part about how
all citizens should be subject equally to the laws of the land.
10. The Magna Carta's Return On Investment
(http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119801881068437867.html )is better than
Carlyle's (these days).
Bonus Reason:
Rubenstein's public statements to the contrary, freedom today does actually have a price. And just in case you were wondering, most of us can't afford it.
With 1.9 million members, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North
America. Focused on uniting workers in three sectors to improve their lives
and the services they provide, SEIU is the largest health care union,
including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care; the largest property
services union, including building cleaning and security; and the second
largest public employee union.