Do you understand how ML bonuses work? Primarily they're wrapped into total worker compensation. Normally people are paid a max base salary around $150k. People paid under $150k (and there are a lot), 20-40%+ is held back as bonus, and its recognition for revenue-generation and personal performance. All comp over $150k is usually classed as bonus.

Does anyone in Merrill deserve a bonus? To say that every single employee in Merrill had a part in the meltdown is frankly distasteful. There have been a huge number of hard-working employees that have generated revenues for the shareholders. Don’t paint every employee with the same brush.

Ask the question differently - do people at Merrill want to be paid with taxpayers dollars? Absolutely not! Most of ML workers are sure they can generate revenues to cover comp expenses. If corporate survival is an issue, most Merrill staff would happily forego "bonuses". Don't confuse that with employee guilt or culpability.

Finally most ML employees are also ML shareholders. It’s in our interest to see ML and BAC succeed. This issue is really about the market, and not about corporate jets flying to Washington, nor rhetoric.

As time goes by, the recession continuously devastating more and more American families, the consumers, businesses and companies are also feeling the pinch. The consumers are forced to tighten their belt because of this situation. Some people are fortunate enough to be financially well off and have no need for any short term financial assistance, such as payday loans or credit repair services. The average person in the middle class, however, is not as privileged. They strive to make an acceptable income to care for their families, some having no choice but to live paycheck to paycheck. While it’s a fact of life that some are rich and financially capable in most or every area while others have to worry about the “little” things, there is another disturbing fact that is becoming more obvious by the minute. It seems that the executive class, who helped generate the recession that many of us are currently suffering from, are on the move to get even more money to award their indiscretion. Reported in a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is out to get a $10 million bonus payment. This is after the company he was hired to run had almost completely run out of cash, and was facing bankruptcy. The situation was so desperate he had to eventually sell the company to Bank of America to keep the currency flowing. New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has called it “nothing less than shocking,” and that is a fair assessment, to adequately put it. It’s rare for any of us to be rewarded for failure. In fact, most would most likely get fired. These big-time executives should be receiving the same treatment as the average person in this country. Why should they be rewarded for their help causing the global economic disaster? Greed is the last thing we need during this critical time. However, if you need help to cover a sudden cash emergency, don’t sell yourself to Bank of America. Keep in mind you still have other options you can work with such as payday loans. Click here to learn more about Payday Loans.