Our society pays bare minimum to get by to those whom we rely our lives on

NYC commuters coping with transit strike

DEC. 20 12:56 P.M. ET Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning as transit workers walked off the job at the height of the holiday shopping and tourist season, forcing millions of riders to find new ways to get around.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had said the strike would cost the city as much as $400 million a day, joined the throngs of people crossing the Brooklyn Bridge as he walked from a Brooklyn emergency headquarters to City Hall.

"It's a form of terrorism, if you ask me," said Maria Negron, who walked across the bridge. "I hope they go back to work."

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Those who drive buses and operate trains in New York are on strike today. They had been discussing about the possibility of strike since the beginning of December. December also happens to be the bonus season, and this is when many traders in New York (Wall Street) get bonuses.

Wall Street's bonus bonanza

At least $20bn is due to be handed out this week, taking the annual pay of some individuals above $10m.

Most 30-year-old traders can expect more than $500,000 extra in December's pay packet, according to insiders.

"It's all very hush hush", says Rich Blake, senior editor of Trader Monthly.

"But most guys are going to have the best year ever".

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I am personally in great favor of people making as much money as they can. I do not think that there is anything inherently wrong about making a lot of money. However, those who trade stocks do not exactly provide basic needs to others; most people do not rely on traders everyday to make their living. Bus drivers and train operators, on the other hand, provide very basics needs to people in New York. Every New Yorker relies on them. Nonetheless, bus drivers and train operators only make above minimum wage, while (many) traders make millions of dollars. Our society pays bare minimum to get by to those whom we rely our lives on and pay millions of dollars and often much more to those who look at charts and trade stocks. Is there something wrong with the picture?