They presided over institutions that made large profits for a substantial period of time by mispricing risk, and then argued for public support on the grounds that they were too big to fail. They appeared arrogant and overpaid, and were easily demonized.
大银行家首当其冲，成了最显眼的被告。长期以来，他们掌管的金融机构靠着扭曲风险定价赚得盆满钵满，回过头来又振振有词地要求公众出资救助，理由是这些机构太大，倒不得。他们表现得趾高气扬，收入似乎高得离谱，很容易就被妖魔化。