"Doing something" the governmental version

For all of those seeking to disregard contracts and agreements arrived at freely by individuals, take heart:

A new row over bankers' pay is looming after Northern Rock said that it would pay bonuses to junior and senior management despite making a loss of £1.4bn last year.

The state-owned bank said today that around 400 junior managers may qualify for a bonus equal to 10% of their salary. These staff are in line for the payout because Northern Rock hit its target of repaying much of its government loan last year. The bonuses will be paid as loan notes, not cash, deferred until 2010.

Governments rail against the "greed culture" of bonuses paid to "financial fat-cats" -however- Governments "do something" for their very own state-owned banks and pay bonuses to management, et al. Markets certainly do enjoy the mixed-messages of "doing something" governmental-style.

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?