Jamie Dimon should be in jail, or at least he should be jobless. But, a different point is worth making about the damage he has caused: why would any child, growing up today, or entering the workforce, listen to any lecture about corporate ethics or “doing right” after being exposed to the farce around Dimon and JPMorgan Chase? Because in the world of JPMorgan, profits are more important than ethics.

It is fascinating to watch the world, and particularly the media coverage, react to the proposed deal Dimon has cut with the government to make all its illegal and immoral behavior go away. Sure, to most regular people, and maybe even the hedge fund crowd, a $13 billion fine is a lot of money. So, it seems like a huge, big deal. True, compared to the neutered response from the government to date, letting executives off the hook and nabbing only the little fish, it counts as an upgrade.

But, consider these two relevant points:

Dimon was at the center of a financial crisis that cost the world trillions of dollars in wealth, a lost generation or two of earnings and a decent life (particularly in countries like Spain and Greece) and tens of millions of jobs.

And all that money — all $13 billion — will be paid by shareholders and customers. It will be paid out of the corporate treasury and, mark my words, to make that money back, fees will go up on the little guys who have business with the bank. Dimon will not pay a penny of the fine, and he will continue to receive huge compensation. NOT ONE PENNY will come out of his pocket.

Why? Aha:

The difference is that JPMorgan’s legal travails have not truly threatened the bank financially, the executive said. While other C.E.O.’s stumbled during the crisis, Mr. Dimon never did, emerging more powerful as his bank went on to report record profits. So far this year, even as its legal troubles have worsened, the bank’s share price has gained roughly 23 percent.

There you go. As long as profits are big and the share price goes up, who cares if your top guy breaks the law? You see, the board members — Dimon’s lackeys who get put on the board, who show up maybe a handful of times a year and are are paid board attendance fees that are often more than a working stiff will make in an entire year — are not there to ask questions. Nope. They are simply there to ratify whatever illegal and immoral behavior the CEO pursues.

Which brings us to the larger point. You often hear lectures from corporate executives and politicians about the need for young people to be more productive in the workplace. Unions get that lecture all the fucking time during negotiations.

This may seem obvious to a lot of us who treat that rhetoric as just pablum spewed from rich, out-of-touch elites. But, for a second, contemplate this: why should a single young person, absorbing all this, not think, logically, “hey, it’s just about grabbing whatever I can. There is no ethical standard, no accountability for the higher-ups. Fuck them.”

That’s ultimately what Jamie Dimon’s legacy will be.