So when they get fined does the money go to the people who have been ripped off ??????

Totally off topic but I just saw your pictures on your blog, nice pictures. Like the ones of Stody Lodge.

Everyone realises that we need bankers, they are a necessary evil, but is it impossible for them to do their job without lying and cheating. They are all handsomely rewarded for what they do, I've never quite understood why they need such obscene bonuses to do the job well. "If you want the best, you have to pay the best" we've been told, so I guess we're lucky we didn't have any cr&p heading up our banking sector! One of the banking experts was saying last night that this latest scam will have certainly have been bonus driven, cheating and lying to get yet even bigger bonuses.

Thank you. <blush>

I drive past the place about 6 times a day. The other horticulture pics are nice as well.....

Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to go to Stody Lodge for a few years now. Their rhododendron display is lovely.

Now why is it I have had no time for the banks, the bankers, their people controlling the money market, their people controlling the loans, their people just controlling.

There are in real terms not many of them, they rely on thousands of front line staff to keep the peace but all they are is pariahs, out greedying (is that a word) their mates, colleagues, competitors.

at a much much lower scale, I knew a small private company where the directors used to vie with each other to see who made the most out of expenses each month. People would be horrified, so why should these people in banks get away with it.

Root and branch sort out, and take away the fast cars, they are not needed in this modern "crisis" world they are actually responsible for, taking their bonuses even when making a loss and expecting the little man in the street to cover them.

Nice to see people are keeping on topic............

I'd like to re acquaint you with a word... "Hypocrite"


Let me know if you would like me to explain it to you.

I have a pension income from a private company, after paying contributions for many years. I get a monthly pension and a yearly copy of the pension funds accounts.

I've never really bothered with the yearly accounts, pages upon pages of meaningless figures to an outsider.

But I did notice that the fund is heavily invested in the 'safe' British banks and governments bonds, which is what you would expect from the fund managers charged with keeping the money safe.

So when the biggest banks get into trouble, I worry. I remember the Daily Mirror debacle, when Maxwell, the bouncing Czech, raided the company's pension funds.

All of a sudden, the pensioners were no longer paid. It took years and severe government intervention for them to get some of their money back.

I might agree that those criminal bankers should hear the swish of the guillotine, but not if it means that I no longer get my pension.

I'm sorry to return to an earlier post, but it's a subject dear to my heart.

When Lehmans got into trouble, the US banks were prevented by the administration (George W Bush) from interfering.

Barclays thought otherwise and made a last-minute bid over the weekend to buy the company. It nearly succeeded until that clown, Bush, stopped it and sent the world into darkness.

There was no need for any of it, just one stupid man who didn't understand any of it.

Look on the bright side.
If their heads roll, there should be millions of squids saved from their obscene bonuses to go towards your pension.

Yes, good points. Sometimes it is a case of be careful what you wish for. We are all shareholders in one way or another...wouldn't want to burn the house down to get rid of a rat

And why were they in trouble? Could it have been that injudicious gambling, sorry investment banking, we're talking about?

pot, kettle, black