The story of men and their weakness

It’s this time during the year when people should be in great mood. Firstly, it’s Christmas. Or how in this country it’s called festive period – however strangely it sounds, it’s sadly true expression in the joy of something special around the corner.

Secondly, chances for snow and nice white cushion across our streets and cities significantly improve. Last year was fun, wasn’t it! People were so excited that they’ve seen 5cm of snow, that some of them decided to leave at home for almost a week or so. Obviously they contemplated this one-in-a-century opportunity to blame the weather of not being able to get to work. I guess it’s called work from home...Good news though: this year we are going to experience similar one-in-a-century snow.

And lastly, it’s Bonus time! The joy this year is even greater. The real fight of The City against Vox Populi (represent by The UK Government) is taking more tense and larger impetus. In history men keep fighting. That’s been their nature. Women, food, money, power. It’s always been like that. This ego-syndrome has been driving men’s behaviour. The bigger the fight the better reward and the greater the taste of it. What else can taste better and drive a man to the moon if not showing in his tribe that he is the One?

So who is fighting this time around? It looks like the government and a few city-guys. Ok, to be precise, its Alistair Darling, Tullett Prebon and Gordon Brown (the order is not accidental). The first one, as this is his job – be a nasty guy with a case full of tax ideas. Tullett Prebon is the first company offering relieve to crucified bonuses. And the last one is trying to win the bigger battle. Battle of his life – general elections in 2010.

How serious is this battle then? I would say, not that much. And to be honest, it’s boring at least as East Enders. Everybody knows bonuses are as old as the City and Wall Street summed up, squared and continuously compounded. Everybody knows that money is one of key drivers of taking or rejecting the job. And everybody knows that nobody and nothing will stop men from pursuing the number One myth (remember Jose Mourinho? This chap was by a mile in his own league of Number One). So dust will not settle soon (if ever). However, what seems to be significant and long forgotten is the one in a lifetime opportunity to make your name in economy and politics. As Baroness Thatcher did in 80s. ‘It is economy, stupid!’

So what’s this battle about? Not about money at first place. Mere £0.5bln of estimating additional income to state’s treasury is not worth of paper it’s been written on. More money government would save by cutting benefits and improving efficiency in public sector. It’s not also about doing right things. Making the whole country pursing few witches at City is not helping anybody. Making your rivals stronger is not tactically wise either. It’s not about rules either. Contractual bonuses are being left without special taxation. There is, however, one carefully crafted goal of this battle. It’s a proper support for players’ ego - old story alive again. Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are obsessed with being first in Europe (it must be due to the trauma of XX century bringing to the end oversees conquest competition of XVIII and XIX century). They keep working to be thought as leaders of innovation in Europe (French and German must be rolling on the floor laughing out loud). No mater what this innovation would bring in. We’ve already heard that Germans and French very strongly support tax measure. But only in the UK. They just can’t see any similar point on their life-after-crisis agenda. Guess why? Hold on, breaking news: it’s Greek that joined hunt-the-bonus-guy game. And they even killed Mr Darling and Brown with one single move: 90% taxation of bonuses. Greek people would love that! Who can score more? Any other contenders?

Few city-boys are hurt as well. Their ego is too big to let them share anything. So they’ll leave. Can somebody check how many employees of Tullett Prebon will leave UK and whether Tullett Prebon itself move to Switzerland or Singapore as recently declared leaving their clientele in London? I may not be that right, but I can see similarities to - not that remote - history dated back to April 2009 – Alistair Darling announcing 50p tax rate on earnings above £150k. How many people were leaving there and how many left in reality? Living in Aberdeen (for the sake of the argument) is cheaper and nicer than London. I know if for a fact. But again people are not that interested in living up north of Scotland. For some reason they prefer London to Aberdeen. They even prefer London to nicer and sunnier Madrid, Rome, La Valetta, name it. Nevertheless we will be entertained by few newspapers shipping here and there this kind of threat. But be aware! Snow is coming! And it is able to grab all the headlines! Even more, it can completely paralyse jets and lorries taking us all to Singapore (or Switzerland or whenever). At least for next 5 months, up until April 2010. Then the whole story will die away. Until next Christmas at the latest. Apologies, festive period – to be politically correct.

Ok, so we know winners. And the real looser of this battle? I guess it would be Porsche and prime property dealers. Oh, and judging from the past, sometimes when those who were demanding blood and Olympics were ‘honoured’ by Cesar to fight against wild beasts at coliseum arena themselves.