One should keep in mind that the stock brokers and bond sales people who received those ridiculous bonuses are American taxpayers. As such, they will be paying taxes on their bonuses and hopefully some money will be flowing back into the economy through club fees, airline tickets, golf balls, booze and the like.

The $3 million and more individually awarded to those men and women may have a quicker impact on the economy than a few dollars doled out to the truly needy. Mr. Thain of Merrill Lynch initially wanted $40 million but then sought $5 million, yet in the end he got nothing since he sold a lemon to Bank of America. One might, however, caution the Wall Street big swingers that they might save some of their money in anticipation that some part of our society or government will eventually sue them for "lack of due diligence."