I have heard the expression legalised theft in relation to the redistribution of shareholder assets that is occurring in the US. What is amazing is how out of touch business seems to be in the US with what is happening in the economy, the mood of the market towards outrageous behaviour and more importantly what is happening within their own companies. The level of self justification that people can undertake to pay themselves what they do when their companies are going tits up is amazing.
This series of graphics from the Washington Post make interesting viewing and they highlight the current disconnect in the elite circles of business in the US. There is only so long you can go on stealing from people before people begin to get sick of it. History is full of examples of people who got their heads cut off for less.
