ndrew Cuomo, New York's Attorney General, in a report on Wall Street compensation, described the current situation in simple, clarion clear words, that expresses the frustration that perhaps you and I both feel. He wrote:

"When the banks did well, their employees were paid well.

When the banks did poorly, their employees were paid well.

And when the banks did very poorly, they were bailed out by taxpayers and their employees were still paid well."

Altogether weird; the banks lose billions and pay out billions in bonuses!

It wasn't that long ago that, prior to the monetary and fiscal woes and the collapse of the stock market, the rapid increase in home foreclosures and the like, experts were making the case that Americans didn't save enough. Now it is more difficult than ever to put money aside for retirement; the "golden years". Many of the self-same experts are now calling on us to get out and spend, spend spend. The whole world needs us to spend. This country's consumption is still equal to the economies of India and China added together and then multiplied by two. We are still the only 800lb gorilla - we are the largest factor at play in the global economy. Yes, the world needs us to spend... but, I wonder if we will benefit from so doing?

ave you been following the rapid rate of car sales brought on by the so-called "cash for clunkers" program? It got off to such an immediate sprint that its $1 billion allotment was almost entirely used up in the first week. I know it is a super idea for auto dealerships and overall a good thing for the "Big Three" manufacturers. I think that for the taxpayer it does very little. It is, a clunker!

It is not, as it is proclaimed to be, promoting energy efficiency or kick-starting the economy.

Car buyers would qualify for a $3,500 credit with trade-ins that net just four additional miles per gallon. With a further ten mpg, they get $4,500. There will be billions more between now and year's end.

Let's discuss this further tomorrow.

onfession! I have never used a blackberry or an i-Pod...does that qualify me as a Neanderthal of sorts? Never have I written a text message or tweeted.

That would sound sort of ignorant, out of pace with society and sure to embarrass my friends.

I wonder if there'll be a need for me to change?