Here in Britain we're used to the idea that the normal laws of behavour, and for that matter statute law, do not apply if you're born at the right place and with the right surname.

The fact that the Duke of Windsor, ex Edward VIII, consorted with Hitler and speculated against the pound just after the war when such things were illegal and most definately immoral, was always glossed over.

Then there was Lord Lucan who could murder his children's nanny and then disapear off the face of the earth.

But now we have a new group of immortals - the big bankers - who can perpetrate the most ginormous frauds, pay themselves seven-figure bonusses, then hide away in their million dollar properties when the chickens come home to roost.

On the face of it, Adam Applegarth, the guy who took Northern Rock down is one, a very visible one, but what about all the others who must have colluded or at least turned a blind eye to what was going on.

What about the managers of the credit rating bureaus who rated the paper that NR was selling on the open market?

What about the regulators in the Bank of England or the FSA who slept through the whole build up?

What about the officers and traders in the big banks who bought the rubbish paper, patted themselves on the back and paid thenselves huge bonusses.

They're resting in their nice houses whilst thousands of ordinary folk are being repossessed and bankrupted.

They're polishing their portfolios whilst ordinary folk get made redundant and wonder how they will feed their families.

They're out on the golf course whilst ordinary folk visit the labour exchanges.

I bought my house decades ago, and now I'm retired and not looking for a job but it doesn't mean I can't get mad about it!