Sound familiar? Love how the boys all chat…

Le Figaro July 2008

Not just Sarkozy….  a concerted effort across several countries.  And of course, Mother Merkel.  Then again, no one is rooting for the Banksters.  Or the Gov Gangsters, either.  Fraudsters  Mobsters.

Off with their heads, all their heads!

FT:

[C]hastened bankers have agreed to new curbs on pay in an attempt to quell the storm, but many privately believe that the government is keeping bankers’ pay in the headlines for political reasons.

“There is no doubt in my mind that there is a deliberate plan to direct people’s anger towards the financial community and away from the government,” said one investment banker. “They are clearly looking for scapegoats at which to finger-point and trying to make themselves popular in the public eye.”

…

This general mistrust of wealth is being exacerbated by rising unemployment.

Bankers point out that Mr Sarkozy can afford to be more critical of financiers than the UK or US, since financial services in France are relatively small in relation to the economy. But there are risks to demonising the industry, they warn.

Not only is it unfair, given that French banks have weathered the crisis relatively well – the top three were profitable last year – but it could also undermine the industry just as Mr Sarkozy hopes to poach business from the UK.

The government’s gamble that targeting bankers will fuel its popularity carries another risk. “There is a big danger in stigmatising people. It can lead to legitimising violent behaviour against them,” said one senior banker.

In France this is no empty threat: social unrest has often led to the downfall of the country’s rulers.

Now is not the time to defend the banks, however, as Michel Pébereau, chairman of BNP Paribas, discovered last week. Upon telling his conference audience of medium-sized businesses that the banks were at their service, he was booed.  . . . . .

Carry on… (when do they all get together again?  Pittsburgh?)