Barclays

I do not expect too many judges in hallowed courts of justices around the world have ever heard the defence of: ‘I am sorry, my actions, m’lud, fell well short of standards.’ Barclay's Bank do not act alone of course – they are just first up to the gallows. Capitalism or the market economy is fighting for its survival on two fronts: the physical campaign for oil and resources, and, the clamour for unrisky borrowing to keep the credit bubble pumped up and afloat. The Barclay's fine has revealed that what seemed secure at the time (borrowing at low, stable interest rates) could have been a fallacy.  The world is run by bankers and politicians neither of who can be trusted with even bringing back the change after getting a pint of milk from the corner shop.