UPDATE#3: Here's a new disturbing look at how Goldman Sachs all but determines U.S. government financial policy, by hiring "former politicians and civil servants, as readily as it supplies them," especially in the Obama Administration (I'm sure there's no conflict of interest with that arrangement). The New York Times columnist David Brooks noted that "Over the past few years, people from Goldman Sachs have assumed control over large parts of the federal government," Brooks noted grimly. "Over the next few they might just take over the whole darn thing."

UPDATE#2: Seems that Goldman Sachs may have been more responsible for our current economic troubles than they'd have us believe. The largest investment group in America--surprisingly untouched by AIG's problems despite having had huge exposure to the failed insurance company--is currently trying to shut down a blogger in Florida for legally aggregating articles and information about their behind-the-scenes manipulation of Congress and the public.

(Here's a great article discussing the possibility that some people think Goldman Sachs has may have some serious conflicts of interest: fyi, former Goldman Sachs alumni include Fed Chairman Hank Paulson, AIG's Ed Liddy, Wachovia's Robert Steel, Merrill Lynch's, John Thain and, sadly, even Timothy Geithner.) Hmmm...

UPDATE#1: Read the entire outrageous story and depressing facts about why we're in this mess, here: The "bank" bailout is a lie and a scam by the Federal Reserve.

On one hand, I'm pessimistic about ever getting back the $165M $450M dollars American International Group, Inc. spent on "retention" bonuses. But on the other hand, I'm shockingly vindictive. Which is why I want the names of everyone who's getting paid million-dollar bonuses for doing credit default swap transactions in AIG's Financial Products Unit—the group that did more damage to Western economies than any terrorist could ever hope.

It's not the amount of the bonuses that upsets me, after all, $165M is a drop in the economic bailout bucket (although, I just read that AIG has paid those idiots $450M in retention bonuses). No, it's that through the SEC's incompetence and AIG's unadulterated avarice, these idiots singlehandedly tanked my retirement savings by over 40%. As a result, I—and nearly everyone else in the country—have to work harder and years longer to avoid living on the street while the ones who put us in that position drive by in their shiny new Maybach 62 S.

Frankly, it's time to judge all these bastards in the court of public opinion, where lawyers, contracts and the law hold no sway. Because, while we as taxpayers may not be able to decide where our money goes, we can certainly decide who gets our outrage and scorn.

Now, I'm not suggesting taxpayers resort to something as rash as death threats. We simply need to socially shame and ostracize these people who still think it's the ’80s and that greed is still good. We need to put names (and maybe faces) to these dirt-bags and make them pariahs. Outcasts of society, exiled to their multi-million dollar mansions to die alone and unloved. To pay the price for fleecing their fellow countrymen and women with what's left of their maggot-ridden soul.

Because, even though these financial "wizards" no doubt travel in circles that few of us do or ever will (at this rate, certainly), a public listing of their names on the Internet would expose their bad judgment, questionable ethics and malevolent misdeeds instantly to any serious journalist or overly opinionated blogger.

Forever linked, their shameful deeds would dog them throughout their remaining years. The next time they were up for a new job, political office, or some "humanitarian" award, they'd quickly be exposed as the economy-bankrupting, conscienceless criminals they truly are.

Does being indefinitely labeled as a unconscionable crook sound too harsh? It would if they had done time, or already paid for their greed and incompetence. But by accepting compensation (bonuses, no less!) after tanking the world's largest economy, these pin-striped pinheads have opened the door and invited public ridicule and contempt to come on in.

These morally (but not financially) bankrupt bastards deserve the full weight of public scrutiny, more so than even politicians (who steal our tax money much less obviously). After all, if public shame is good enough for prostitution "johns," it's good enough for the amoral, greedy and ethically retarded slugs who nearly bankrupted the entire free world.

And let's start that list with AIG's Joseph Cassano, a guy who already had a previous run-in with the SEC but wasn't prosecuted. Way to do your job, SEC.