It's a serious mistake to join the penis envy hatred of people making money for doing a good job.
The mistake was never the size of the bonuses. It was the stupidity of paying them too soon. Given the chance to make millions from initial success as opposed to long term genuine success was always too good to be avoided.

They wouldn't be making such huge profits if the tax payers weren't paying such huge amounts into the banking system. Where is the tax payers share of these profits.

Also I bet half of the people getting the bonuses, will just get it for turning up for work in the morning.

Those criticising them - be they punters or journos or politicians - are usually earning very little for doing much less, and deservedly so.
"How dare someone else make lots of money? Why can't I?".

Answer - because you're no bloody good. If people create a 12 billion pound profit they deserve huge rewards.

As long as it's real profits not just paper ones.

robbiex wrote:
[quote]They wouldn't be making such huge profits if the tax payers weren't paying such huge amounts into the banking system. Where is the tax payers share of these profits. [quote]

We, as taxpayers, didn't put one penny into Barclays, so we're not entitled to any dividend.

Lets see if RBS, Lloyds and Northern Rock, (the banks we did invest in), can achieve such good results - and thus pay the shareholders a dividend. And, make the shares so desirable, that we can sell them for a profit.

Bankers get huge benefits if they are successfull, equally they should be forced to pay back any losses if their gambles don't pay off, instead of the government and tax payers having to fund it.