It's not welfare as long as it is corporate welfare! :)

...So commented a fellow about Huffington Post's article titled, "Citi Jet Purchase: $50 million, 12-seat plane despite $45 Billion Bailout".

I completely agree. There's a different standard out there when it comes to Corporations and Corporate bigwigs. It doesn't matter if they've been and continue to be irresponsible. Doesn't matter that they've made bad decisions. Doesn't matter that they feel entitled. Doesn't matter that they lived life large and enjoyed all the money in the good times and didn't save up for bad times. Doesn't matter that they ran their companies by over extending their debt...

In America, Corporations can do no wrong and are never punished.

It is the people who carry the brunt.

- Bought a home that was within your means but got taken in by an unscrupulous mortgage lender who saddled you with a fancy mortgage instrument that "balloons"?
Hey! you should have done your homework!

- Been absolutely responsible with your money, but now have lost most, if not all, of your hard-earned 401(k)?
Tough luck, mate! No one could have predicted this!

- Been very careful with your home purchase but the value of your home has fallen so much that you've lost all your savings?
Sorry, old champ! That's life!

- Got laid off because your CEO spent the company money on refurbishing his office and now cannot pay you for the honest day's work you are doing? Lost your health insurance since you don't have a job and now cannot pay for your terminally ill wife's treatment?
- Buddy, this is a capitalist society. Don't expect welfare!

But, if you are a bigwig in a Corporation, just go wailing to Washington with a begging bowl.

"Baawwwwlllllllllll! The economy tanked. No one could have predicted this. We cannot run our business. We didn't foresee this. HELP US! Bail us out so that we can continue to squander the common man's hard earned money. "

And the poor sucker taxpayer will come to your rescue.

Your requesIt is being processed.

Walll Street Fiddles as America Burns!

We Americans have our very own reincarnation of Nero - The fools at Wall Street.

Nero, the fifth and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty was known for his tyranny and extravagance. But, his greatest claim to fame was that he fiddled while Rome burnt!

Our Neros think John Thain's (Merill Lynch's CEO) profligacy is warranted and a "just a drop in the bucket" compared to the money that Merrill Lynch makes each quarter.

I wish the Wall Street types who said this would do their homework first. Merrill was posting losses every quarter. There was no money being made. Merrill was laying off employees in order to save money. And John Thain was preaching to his leftover employees to CUT spending while he refurbished his office!

Is this the reason why we are all in this mess? Because the CEOs who are hired by corporations dont think they need to do their homework before spouting nonsense? Because they refuse to face reality? Because they are so puffed up with their own importance that they think they are worthy of an office costing $1.22 million?

Because they continue to fiddle while America burns?