It's my opinion that they, along with carefully selected newspaper magnates, run the country

I second that!

Apart from the fact that several high profile chairmen have turned down bonuses it's a safe bet that the rest will receive them whether we like it or not. It's up to Mr Darling to hit them with suitable tax rates. But it seems that every time parliament tries to stand up to these people some sort of spoof article about MP wrong-doing miraculously appears in the press. (See also "MP's and the million pound expense  storm in a tea-cup!")

Agree..oh and don't start me about British gas and their profits!

And the oilly exec "explaining" gas prices on TV as if we were a bunch of idiots  etc...grrrrr!!

I agree with Joe here.

You know the G20/G8 meetings? The one of all the world leaders/presidents and prime ministers met to decide on ways to change policies etc. Guess who else was there..... the highest bankers in the world too, why where they there eh?

because it's them who lend money to governments.

I'll risk the so-called 'best' people going elsewhere too

At least it's good news for those who voted for Thatcher, Blair and co, and  their market economy, they must be swimming in Utility shares. etc etc.

So lending money that is ultimately  paid back (with interest) gives you the power to make decisions  over a country with a democratically elected government?

That's like the bank manager coming with you view houses wanting to tell you which one to buy before he will lend you mortgage.

  In a further complication I suspect that you and I might own the banks.

That's the way the cookie crumbles

Illuminati *taps nose*....

Or Lizards from space..

I would just like to say I work for one of the banks - and I - and most of the "proper" workers will not be getting a bonus!!

They're discussing this now on Question Time ... well, they are all waffling a lot

I may 'catch up' on Question Time

Don't think it's worth it Pam ... apart from the audience member who has just suggested that the bonuses are paid back to the tax payer.

They changed the subject  immediately

Yeah Rexi, that'll be right  the great British public gets 'sat on' again......and I changed that

Oh, if only I could say what I wanted to say  they'd ban me  anyways....night everyone

Correct me if I'm wrong, but - how can they say that these highly-paid-bonus bankers are too good to lose? Surely they are not, because they are the ones who got it wrong. They are being rewarded for failure.

There are 'high flyers' joining the banking system, every year.

We just need some high flyers who are trained not to shit on everyone, once they're up there - sorted.

Me neither the money grabbing, daylight robbing, bunch of scrotum faced twats!

apparently the ones getting the huge bonuses have contributed to  making the bank 5.5 billion last year, which went some way to reducing the losses of the bank. this bonus will be taxed at 50% so we get  some back.

as the major shareholder we need the bank to succeed if we are ever going to get taxpayers  investment back.