Driving to work this morning, shortly after 5 am, the BBC World Service was running a man-on-the-street piece about the record $40 million dollar bonus paid out to Morgan Stanley’s CEO. The chirpy American reporter interviewed a hot dog vendor who said that he hadn’t noticed any increase in his business, then went to a man “selling $10 scarves; the sign says they’re 100% cashmere”:
Radio reporterette: “So, what do you think of the big guy in that building getting a $40 million bonus?”
Street vendor: “I think it’s ALL RIGHT. I wish it was, me, though, ‘cause I could use the money. Know what I mean?” [Hearty laugh]
BBC news reader (drily): “That’s so-and-so, reporting from the streets of New York. It appears that there are large cultural differences in peoples’ attitudes toward other people’s wealth.”
Heck, here in Texas we see people earn $40M after working their asses off for 6 straight months and we know, really know, deep in our hearts, that we can do the same. Because we see it again and again. This fella got a lot of attention because he managed to get his monster bonus while working in New York City instead of Texas.
This is what makes America great – knowing we can achieve excess beyond the dreams of avarice. As long as you live in Texas. And sometimes in New York City.
It appears that way? Well, thats everything. It appears. Digging hard for a story, failing, and trying to salvage success simply by suggestion.
Oh wait, it’s the BBC.
Nevermind. Modus operandi.
I don’t care when the CEO is good. But, having inside knowledge of one particular industry – there are corporate fat-cats racking in the dough doing an utterly shitty job. Shitty to the tune of laying off employees because they’ve made bad decisions, having to sell off parts of the company. Claiming “profits” which in reality were created by selling off company assets (lands, divisions, etc.)
I have my qualms with “corporate America” – and wish we had a better way to shake out the snake-oil salesmen. My husband witnessed one man totally destroy a company – and the pensions of the employees. He went away with his pockets full, and the employees had neither a job anymore, nor their retirement.
Obviously both you and your commenters are missing the point. The REAL point is that people who are further up the economic ladder have greater appreciation for the rich than those at the bottom.
Am I the only one that recognizes that a hotdog vendor selling weiners for a buck is more resentful of the rich than a guy selling PURE cashmere scarves for 10 bucks? I should get a grant for recognizing this important socio-economic reality.
I could also speak to inflation. I bought pure cashmere scarves in NY for $3 about 20 years ago. Still have one of them.
What would you do with a $40 million bonus? I know I’d be having an extra hot dog at lunch, and springing for one of those fine cashmere scarves I’ve had my eye on. I think I’d probably throw the $20 and get me a Rolex too.
I’d make a dent in these damn Christmas bills.
Wait a minute, Scott: are you saying that I missed something? I don’t see how that’s possible. I’m too expressive.
It wasn’t 40 large in cash. He undoubtedly got some cash,but the rest was in stock options and othe goodies geared to the future performance of the stock.
There are no guarantees in life, ever. No matter who you work for it’s up to you to see to your future. Not the CEO of some company.
Which reminds me of Divine Interventures. Over two billion in startup capitol, all gone in three years. You couldn’t get rid of 2billion any faster if you shoveled it down every manhole you drove by.
“Driving to work this morning, shortly after 5 am,”
What is that you do, do, Dan? Besides keep us entertained, that is.
I guess Americans are far more optimistic than socialists.
If your future was British cooking and British healthcare and getting locked up if you tried to defend yourself and your family against rising crime and opening your morning paper to read that a sizeable number of British born muslims don’t care about your traditions, wouldn’t you be pissed at the Yanks, too?
Of course, when you got to the article about how it’s the Dutch girls who now have the biggest hooters in Europe, you’d really be pissed at the Yanks, right?
Then you read this about how some lucky SOB in NY makes millions, and you can’t even get a street vendor to get mad or jealous and you get even angrier at the Yanks.
Those fools think they have a shot at making something of their lives, the morons. Then some of them actually do it. Without being born into nobility or the upper class. It’s enough to make you even more angry with the Yanks.
It’s ALL our fault. Our contribution to the mental health of the world – no charge.
Hmmm.
$40 million bonus?
I don’t know about the rest of you. But I *know* there’s a certain former Miss Nevada that needs some good luvin.
And $40 million will make any dumpy-ass freak look really fucking GOOD!
There’s always the article about Indian men to cheer you back up again.
Two chicks at the same time.
TW: position85. Yeah, that’s the one I’d use.
Hey, hey dude! Turn on channel nine!
That bonus is what the whole of the third world earns.. Filthy lucre of money. Shit why cant Bono sing abt that boner.. and make us poor mouths drool