Wall Street bonuses bubble into the billions

[ckramer]

When Michael Aaron learned that Wall Street investment banks were going to be shelling out record bonuses this holiday season, the savvy wine merchant uncorked his own plan to make serious dough.

He paid for a double-page advertisement in The New York Times, boasting a rare bottle of 1995 Dom Perignon. The price tag -- $14,950.

"We thought we'd put this temptation out there," said Aaron, chairman of Sherry-Lehmann wine store on Madison Avenue.

The $15,000 bottle of bubbly is just one example of how record Wall Street bonuses this year can trickle through New York City's economy. People are buying multimillion-dollar apartments. They are driving $40,000 BMWs out of the showroom.

A report released Tuesday by the state comptroller said Wall Street is expected to pay out $23.9 billion in bonuses, shattering last year's record by 17 percent.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/19/wallstreet.bonuses.ap/index.html

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Disgusting. nt

[ninkasi]

2. That's more than my yearly income

This might be why we voters put Democrats in charge in November. That's obscene.

[mike_c]

3. I don't know what to say-- I've worked all my life and will be homeless...

...when I retire, most likely. I'm going to go get drunk now....

[Octafish]

4. Someone's got to get paid for destroying the American middle class.

Manufacturing base destroyed.
Good paying, union jobs shipped overseas.
PT as a Walmart Greeter or Hamburger Flipper, if you're lucky.
Your BFEE at work.

[onehandle]

5. Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort!

Our own 1789 is just around the corner.

Madame Guillotine?

[Porcupine]

6. Does anyone know how to knit a shroud? nt.

.

[NVMojo]

7. and the fat , dumb and happy Joe Six Pack-GOP voters will wonder

one day what the fuck hit them ....