Under the Troubled Asset Relief Program the firms received more than $150 billion in taxpayer funds to stay afloat, while more than 2,000 of their employees got at least $1 million in bonuses. More than 20 individuals received more than $10 million each.

Huh? Did I read that right?

Yup! We give loan these institutions gazillions billions of dollars and they have the balls nerve to pay out million dollar bonuses!

I know why this happened though. Read my little true story below:

Back in my hippie days (as contrasted to my current ‘hippy’ days), my then-husband and I had a friend I’ll call Bobby (the name is changed to protect the guilty!). It was the late 60’s and, the times, they were a-changin’. We were living in a basement apartment at my parent’s house and didn’t have much money. Bobby was a starving student and living in a closet – literally – a closet. He rented it from a friend for a few dollars a week. There was room for a twin mattress on the floor of the closet that touched the wall at the head, side and foot of the mattress. On the open side of the mattress was about 12 inches to the other wall. Get the picture? It was t-i-g-h-t. It was s-m-a-l-l. He was p-o-o-r.

Stay with me, now. I’ll tie in the bailout issue.

We ate dinner with my parents often. Bobby was over one day and my parents, knowing his lot, invited him to stay for dinner too. We had a great meal (nothing less would ever happen when Mom was cooking!) and shared some laughs and good conversation. The subject got around to Bobby’s living situation. My Dad, with his heart of gold, insisted on giving Bobby fifteen dollars. I mean, really, the guy had nothing. He was a sneeze away from homelessness. He gratefully accepted the money.

After dinner, we ‘kids’ sat around bemoaning the fact that we were broke and had nothing to do. Out of nowhere, Bobby suggested we go to the movies. My husband and I looked at each other both incredulous at what we just heard. We said to Bobby “But you have no money.”

He replied “I have fifteen dollars.”

And that is why I think bailouts don’t work.