Everybody wants to kick the bankers when they are on the ground. Heck, we’d do it too…but the crowd around them is so thick; we can’t get a boot in edgewise. Besides, there are bigger charlatans still standing. After all, bankers were just doing their jobs – separating fools from their money. What about those who were supposed to be protecting the fools?…
February 16th, 2009 | Bill Bonner | 5 comments | ContinuedAll Posts Tagged With: "bonuses"
Wall Street Bankers: The World’s Most Privileged Outcasts
Today we turn our attention to the world’s most privileged outcasts. “Once envied, Wall Street bankers are now mocked,” says a headline at the International Herald Tribune. So many people are getting on the bankers’ case; we’re beginning to feel sorry for them. After all, what did they do wrong? Well…
February 5th, 2009 | Bill Bonner | 1 comment | Continued
Wall Street Gets the Boot
Yesterday, President Obama, seeing Wall Street on the mat, walked over and gave it the boot. The $18 billion in bonuses, paid out on to Wall Street honchos last year, were “shameful,” said he. It was the “height of irresponsibility” to take so much capital out of the system when it was losing money, he pointed out. Of course, he’s right. It was certainly irresponsible. And the Wall Street crowd deserves the boot, no doubt about it. But it’s a shame no one mentioned it in 2006 or 2007 – not even Mr. Obama – when the bonuses and the irresponsibility were even higher…
February 2nd, 2009 | Bill Bonner | 0 comments | Continued
A Country of Madoffs
This week began with a squabble. John Thain was sacked as head of Merrill Lynch after giving out $4 billion in bonuses – just before announcing $15 billion in losses for the 4th quarter of ‘08. (…)Then Citigroup announced that it had bought a new corporate jet for $50 million. Seemed a bit rich for a company that had just lost $8.3 billion. What sort of devilry is this? Where can you can lose billions…take billions in handouts from taxpayers… and still coddle executives with new planes and million-dollar ‘bonuses?’ Penalties would seem to be more appropriate…
January 30th, 2009 | Bill Bonner | 0 comments | Continued