BONUS MARCHES

TWO MILLION DOLLAR BONUSES FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE POCKETS OF 200 EXECUTIVES OF SIX LARGE INVESTMENT BANKS. HOW THEY ALLOCATED THEIR EXPENDITURES FROM THESE 'GIFTS' OR 'REWARDS' DEPENDING UPON YOUR TAKE ON THEIR EFFICIENCIES AS CHIEF EXECUTIVES, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TRIUMPH OF MATERIALISM AND CONSUMERISM IN AMERICA . VIRTUALLY ALL IS SPENT ON DAILY EXPENSES, HOUSING PURCHASES, LUXURY GOODS AND SERVICES, LUXURY CARS, PERSONAL SERVICES, HOBBIES, ART AND COLLECTIBLES, TOYS, SPAS, TUDORS, STAFF, MORTGAGES, CREDIT LINES, ELECTRONICS, TRAVEL, ... YOU GET THE PICTURE. A MERE 4% WENT TO CHARITY. NO SURPRISE.

A 12% INCREASE IN SALARY OVER THREE YEARS FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE POCKETS OF STRIKING WORKERS AT HARLEY-DAVIDSON. HOW WILL THESE BENEFICIARIES OF WHAT AMOUNTS TO A FURTHER INCREASE IN THE COST OF A CONSUMER PRODUCT, SPEND THEIR 'WINDFALL' OR 'BLACKMAIL' MONEY DEPENDING UPON YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE UNION PRESSURE? NO DOUBT THEIR EXPENSES WILL ALSO RISE TO MEET INCOME.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE NO FOOD OR BEVERAGE AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER CONTAINS TRANS FATS EXCEPT FOR FRENCH FRIES OR FRIED ENTREES AT 'FAST FOOD' FRANCHISES. YET THE FEAR AND LOATHING CADRE HAVE WON A VICTORY BY THEIR BAN ON TRANS FATS. IN EFFECT, THIS BAN BANS THE BONUS - THE VALUE ADDED - OF TASTY, CONVENIENCE FOODS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

HINT: SOME PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH. OTHERS NEVER HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE THEM SATISFIED. THE FEW WHO FORCE OTHERS TO LOSE OR SPEND MORE MONEY, AS LONG IT IS NOT THEIRS, ARE DANGEROUS.