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It is particularly ironic that Congress was wrapping up its billion-dollar gift to the banking industry during the same week executives of Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase were lambasted on Capitol Hill for helping Enron defraud shareholders to the tune of $8 billion dollars. Only in Washington could a pair of companies be publicly raked over the coals -- exposed as bald-faced liars and criminal accessories -- on a Tuesday, and then be blown an all-is-forgiven make-up smooch on Thursday.
So once again big donors get a kiss on the lips and little guys get a kick in the rear, or someplace even more painful. And those trying to dig themselves out of a mountain of debt are not likely to be given a boost by a contracting job market with 8.4 million people out of work and more people seeking unemployment benefits than at any time in nearly 20 years.
No wonder there is a growing anger among the dispossessed. "Never before have I seen the fury and hatred that I'm now seeing on a daily basis," says David Bowman, an employment consultant who tries to find work for people who have been downsized. "You've got thousands and thousands of hard-working people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves broke, out of a job, and with nearly worthless retirement plans."
I realize that life isn't fair. But wouldn't it be nice if it were a little more just? If Kenny Lay, instead of jogging around the streets of Aspen in sweats, were jogging around a jail yard track in stripes?
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