So, after taking billions of dollars of money from the treasury, and trillions from the Federal Reserve’s sh%$pile for cash program, we now discover that they are overcharging for federally guaranteed loans:

Since the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. started guaranteeing debt in November, banks have charged clients, including themselves, more than $375 million in fees on $154 billion of deals in the U.S., according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group Inc., which received $7.6 billion from the U.S. Treasury, paid Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase & Co. 30 basis points, or $6 million, in December to sell FDIC-backed notes due in three-and- a-half years. A month later, JPMorgan and two other banks charged Freddie Mac 7.5 basis points for a similar offering.

(emphasis mine)

Also, the bailed out banks continue to maintain lavish offices, complete with office staff, for their recently ousted CEOs:

Looking for Charles O. “Chuck” Prince, ousted 15 months ago as Citigroup Inc.’s chief executive officer? Just call his extension at the bank, which still pays for his office and secretary in Midtown Manhattan.

Former Citigroup investment-banking head Michael Klein also has a free office and secretary after receiving a $34.3 million exit package when he quit in July 2008. John Reed, 70, who hasn’t worked at the bank since he resigned as co-CEO in 2000 with a $5 million parting bonus, is entitled to an office and secretary for as long as he wants.

Sanford I. “Sandy” Weill, who retired as chairman in 2006, is ending a 10-year consulting contract with the bank in April after just three years. The agreement gave him millions of dollars in perks, including an office, car and driver and use of company aircraft, which he gave up in February.

Sure as hell beats working for a living, I guess.

It appears to me that we have our own oligarchs in the United States, and we need to deal with them appropriately.

Unfortunately, I can’t find Vladimir Putin on my speed dial.