patrick.net

How well are the banks really doing? It seems like new ones are being closed every month... .

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-22/colorado-s-united-western-among-four-u-s-banks-closed-down-by-regulators.html

http://www.ajc.com/business/two-more-georgia-banks-828190.html

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php?sid=386474

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/18/regulators-shut-4-ga-calif-banks/

http://robertreich.org/post/3353591266

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Regulators-close-small-Ill-apf-2521062342.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-banks-shuttered-makes-33-apf-3658067076.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Banks-closed-in-Colo-Fla-Ga-apf-453984856.html?x=0

et. al.

Also bankers are getting large bonuses again.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/01/bofa-chief-gets-free-pass-on-pay/

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043429,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopularle/0,9171,2043429,00.html?xid=rss-mostpopular

Not to mention Goldman Sachs last year:

http://www.businessinsider.com/bonus-watch-2009-goldman-sachs-pays-huge-bonuses-and-gives-junior-bankers-a-50-salary-raise-2010-1

What have they really done for the economy in terms of adding value? It would seem that banks are only doing better (those that are) since 2008 (1) because of the injection on public money and probably just as important (2) the changes in the accounting system allowing banks to consider properties held as worth bubble peak figures instead of "mark to market". What do you all think?