About Finance and Politics

As a result, RBS management has agreed to reduce (not eliminate, God forbid) their performance bonuses, and instead increase their base salary, claiming they will not be able to attract otherwise.

Indeed, if it’s talent that was needed to lose such sums, wouldn’t it be a prudent business decision to attract the less talented?

And let’s get serious for a moment. Bankers are not as hot as they once were. Do we really feel that if we didn’t increase their salaries they will resign, and take, for instance, public service instead? If banks don’t understand the current economic reality of supply and demand they are in the wrong job, and we’d better get rid of them altogether.

On the other hand, if we give them, why shouldn’t they take? After all, this is one of the only things they know how to do

The European Court of Human Rights called Friday on Britain to postpone its deportation to Jordan of radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada until after it had heard his appeal.
I hail the European Court of Human Rights, and call Britain to deport Qatada to Brussels until his appeal is heard

The Mustang Ranch brothel, also known as the Mustang Bridge Ranch or Valley of the Dolls, was Nevada's first licensed brothel. In 1990 the U.S Federal Government seized it for tax evasion and, as required by law, tried to run it. They failed and it closed.

I only hope they are better at running banks than brothels

A society in which the biggest manufacturers (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) want to be rewarded for making products that no one wants to buy

'Titian reached the age of 90, finished the last of his 100 great paintings, and said: ‘I’m finally learning how to paint.’ That is where we are,’ said Mr. Brown.

And to this all I can say that I have not yet seen any of the 99 masterpieces done by Mr. Brown. So why doesn’t he just go away and come back to us in his 90s?