Ordinary Joes, listen up

Okay, so we're all pissed off about the fat cats. Why?

Because we know they've been doing stuff behind our backs for YEARS, now, sucking off our money, vampire-wise, and getting away with it. Only now, with the financial crisis happening, do we pay attention.

And we MUST PAY ATTENTION -- NOW.

Dig this:

"On Tuesday, Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J) wrote to Treasury Secretary Geithner, asking him to "use every legal means available" to stop $3 billion in previously disclosed retention payments to brokers at the new joint venture being formed by Morgan Stanley and Citigroup's Smith Barney unit.

"These payouts constitute misuse of taxpayer money and are an insult to hardworking families who are saving every penny," wrote Sen. Menendez.

"Morgan responded in a statement that the payments aren't bonuses, but loans that won't start paying until 2010 and cannot be kept in full unless the broker stays at the firm for nine years. "The program is necessary because our financial advisers are being poached by competitors," the statement added."

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"Our financial advisers are being poached by competitors."

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Let me repeat that:

"Our financial advisers are being poached by competitors."

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Before you rage off about how stupid that is -- and let there be no doubt, it IS stupid --

THIS is what we're up against, finance-wise, crisis-wise, world problem-wise:

WE'RE IN A WORLD OF HURT BECAUSE THE ECONOMY NOW DEPENDS ON SOMEONE BEING SATISFIED WITH A BIGGER SALARY THAN SOMEONE ELSE, TO KEEP THE WHEELS PROPERLY GREASED.

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Whaddafuh are "credit default swaps?"

"Leveraged buyouts?"

"Crappola that is nothing more than smoke and mirrors?"

Whatever happened to I pay you X for Y? Cash on the barrel-head?

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Grieve, my rat-brethren. Grieve now, while you still have a soul. For sorrow cleanses, and renews; but Mammon asks its own tribute, and will not accept a substitute. Make yer choice.

Principle, or principal?