Led by donk... weasels

Vince grinds an axe and reveals his vicious side

How did we know the banks would honour that? Oh, monthly reports. That would do the trick. So who would see the reports? The answer delighted us whose souls have been shrivelled by cynicism. No one. Ministers. Parliament would be given a statement in a year's time.

The banks will pull the wool over ministers' eyes, and ministers will pull the wool over Parliament's eyes. We all do what we do best.

Where's my vote?

May you live in less dull times?

Hank Paulson's legacy will be very dull financial institutions

I'm sure it has been mentioned already, so apologies for any repetition.

As one not living in the London bubble of Ministers, media and money, I could frankly live with my banks being, especially in the Chinese warning sense, a little less 'interesting'.

I believe the term is 'safe and sound'.

You want excitement? May I suggest the kicks are derived from something closer to home than my kids' futures.

He who pointeth...

I have had it suggested that Mr. Robinson is not in thrall of Labour/Mr. Brown so shall not go there.

However, this end/death of capitalism thing seems an odd one.

As far as I can see is that, within a system, a bunch of folk were either not as smart as they thought they were, greedier than even they could cope with and/or more crooked than anyone has a right to get away with so long.

And, crucially, were, and are being allowed to get away with either ineptitude or venality by a bunch of folk we pay to look after our personal and national interests. It's like blaming a crashing plane for plummeting when the pilots are all in 1st class swigging bubbly with their mates who are busy siphoning off the fuel to flog. Oh, and they are the only ones with parachutes.

I could really give a flying fig for anywhere else, but one bunch of clowns has had a lot of years in power to get a grip, which they have so far failed pretty much across the board to do. And now their PR cheerleaders (not all, I stress, but the big guns seem to still be 'on message', no matter how incredible it is getting) still keep straight faces, as they have with all sorts of stuff some still try and pin on Pitt the Elder, when we get some waffling pension (pol) pot emerging form their bunker to say 'it' is unacceptable, not good enough, lessons have been learned, a committee will be formed and something will... er, might...be done.

But don't expect a single person anywhere being held to account, in business or public service. Ever.

Guardian - The financial sector just bombed itself. Is this the end of capitalism?

Who's laughing now?

Many, many years ago I was in competitive, if good-natured conversation with a friend who was a Master of the Universe in the City.

In response to a jibe about the value of my profession (with some truth as I look at the ASA rules - though ironically it's more failure in the regulatory system we all pay for) what I said in reply stays in my mind, especially now. Bear in mind that with some aspects I was exaggerating for effect/humour:

"So, let me get this straight. You organise deasl where our country's money is lent to guys like the Russian Mafia to build major capital projects for billions, for which you guys get millions in commission and bonusses. Then, when they don't build it and keep the money, we see nothing but yet you still get to keep the commissions and bonusses."

He laughed and assured me this was not the case. But I was unsure if his eyes joined in.

Eggs. Baskets. Omlettes.

A samll snippet from todays' news of the last few days' financial shenangigans.

And that is the compo for savings of £30k is per group.

And that means, I regret to say, even the likes of me (associated with my Mum's savings) looking at moving funds to ensure a proper spread for security.

It is mazing how various fiancail institutions are linked and hence pooled.

We must fin... er... really try and look for the guilty parties, answers, etc

A tribunal must tell us what to fix. And whom to punish

This really puts me in a quandary:

'A tribunal must tell us what to fix. And whom to punish

The state shirked its role while City stupidity and greed slid into thieving.'

Yes. It cannot and must not be allowed to quietly ooze away, like all the others.

'When the crisis subsides, an inquiry is needed'

Oh, dear God. Another inquiry.

Like all the others.