Banks are a collection of loosely related business that are only tied together by their participation in the capital markets. The equities derivatives desk has

Banks are a collection of loosely related business that are only tied together by their participation in the capital markets. The equities derivatives desk has little to do with the mortgage desk which has little to do with the health care investment banking group. As such, front office Wall Street bonuses are primarily based on personal and desk performance. In 2008 a handful of desks 'blew up' which took down the entire firm. Meanwhile equity and govie desks had a banner year. Does every desk deserve to get shafted? Do the back-office developers deserve to get shafted? I'm not here to defend the banks, but I can understand both sides of the argument. The Government should have just nationalized the banks if they wanted to control this.