Brother, can you spare a dime?

Most Americans are seeing a little (or a lot) less green in their pockets these days. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs, and even their houses in the last few years. Thankfully, I've lost neither yet. Times are definitely tight, though. Well, unless you're the CEO of a major company.

Corporate excess has been around for a long time. Corporate greed has been around for even longer. People who have it, like to flaunt it. That's most of the fun in having it for them. I understand that. When a company is doing good, and rolling in dough (though legitimate means), I have no problem with that. It's a fact of life. But… When your company is bleeding red ink, and jobs just as fast, you need to have a bit of humility and compassion.

The banking industry is the first recent example. Million dollar golden parachutes, millions in bonuses, even as they are seeking (and got) $700 Billion, that's Billion with a capital 'B', from the Government. No wait, the government is handing it out, but it's us taxpayers who they're actually getting the money from… After receiving the bailout, the big-wigs went on an executive retreat costing more than a few bucks. Can you say "rub salt in the wounds?"

Then, after everyone swallowed that reality came the Automotive industry looking for $25B in governmental assistance. Whether it's a loan or a bailout is still a toss-up. But they still live in the public eye as wealthy barons. The automotive CEOs took a lot of heat on Capitol Hill yesterday. I caught one quote last night that really seemed to sum up the complaints. To paraphrase, "you guys rolled in here in Rolls Royces with a tin can held out looking for assistance." I can picture that in my head. And that's the same image I had ahead of time, too.

When one Senator (?) proposed that each of the CEOs take a pay cut from the millions they are currently paid to a more reasonable $1 given the current situation, two of the three said "No thanks." COME ON! You think that they would seriously be impacted, I mean down to the level that the rest of us peons are surviving on, if they gave up their salaries for a year or two?! Their interest on investments alone make more in a day than most of us make in a year! Heaven forbid they might actually not be able to eat $250 dinners EVERY night any more. They might have to cut back a little.

Once they get that silver spoon in their mouth, they just don't wanna let go. I understand, but that says a lot about their character. 'Nuf said.

As for the bailout, I'm still on the fence. I'm mad as hell about the bank bailouts, and the possibility of the Auto bailout. Toss that 700 BILLION over to us that need it a little more and we'll jump start the economy! The banks will get a lot of it anyway as we pay off our growing credit card debt, our mortgages that are bigger than our house valuations. The retail and service outlets will see their share as well as we repair/replace all the things that are falling apart that we've not been able to afford for several years. Even the retail food industry will benefit as people actually have the money to "splurge" and eat out again as a release from the stresses of debt.

I'm not an economist, and I have never played one on TV. I'm not a psychologist, but I've listed to many people complain about their situation. I know very little about high finance, investments and how the "world really operates," but I can tell you this – I'm not alone in my thoughts that the arrogance of people with money does nothing to endure them to us at lower end of the economy. Their day will come. I just hope that our day will come too – soon…