I Lost My Firm Billions - Reader Comments

1. 'I wonder what would have happened to the MBS trader who stood up before all this mess unfolded and said: 'I don't want to trade these securities anymore! We truly don't understand the risks involved, and I am concerned that what we are doing may potentially have serious implications for the wider economy'. He would have been the first for the chop!'.

2. 'These guys did what they were paid to do by going where the money was. One might just as easily blame the low-income Americans who took out those home loans that they couldn't afford to repay'.

3. 'Isn't this the 'Nuremberg Defence' - 'I was just doing my job!'. It's time that we recognise that financial markets executives are simply not as clever as they think they are. And that all execs taking risks with shareholder funds should have bonus payments tied to sustainable performance - thus all bonuses should have long vesting periods'.

4. 'I'm a bit sceptical of this guy (and many others) who seem to suggest that no-one could have seen what was coming. There have been many voices in the press and academia going back to 2005 predicting the subprime crisis'.

5. 'Trying to buy sympathy now really makes me sick'.

6. 'I don't think that this guy's apology was hollow. He was only doing his job'.

7. 'I almost felt sorry for this guy until he told us that he was never in it for the money, but mentions that 'he'll never have to work again'. It's asking a bit much to retire at 30 with a clear conscience!'.