Anger at Goldman Sachs?

Is there any resentment simmering out in the public over Wall Street's return to big earnings and big bonuses? Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News commentator, likened Goldman Sachs bankers to pigs during a segment on his TV show. "You've got to make an example of the big boy," he said. "And this is the big boy." Jon Stewart said this: "Goldman Sachs makes $3.4 billion in profit from April to June. I guess the bailouts are working, for Goldman Sachs."

So there you have it: Criticism from the right and the left. But is this really a populist issue? I'm not so sure. It may be that most people are glad that the big banks are no longer draining taxpayer funds. But there's still plenty of time for some big banks to really tank. The PR disaster and public anger will come if the bailouts of some big banks appear to be failing. There is time for that still.

For more:
- here's a New York Times article on class resentment

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