Alex
Funny how no one was moaning about Transatlantic follies whilst we were reaping the benefits.

Sam, Birmingham, UK

Lehman's went bust because they couldn't sell on the worthless subprime-based investments they created. They are one of the banks actually responsible for the credit crunch. The scam worked brilliantly but now its over and time to move on. No-one who worked there deserves any sympathy at all.

Steve, London, UK

The reason people are gloating (even in the knowledge
this will affect them too) is that bankers are leeching
scum that contribute nothing at all to society. They are
people with no purpose.

Sam, Tunbridge Wells,

Americans are not swimming in the monetary bailout of Fannie and Freddie. Nor will we see anything for Lehman. Rather, we are paying higher gas and food prices, watching our retirment savings plummet, and worrying about job security.

Beth, Small town Kentucky, USA

It's amazing to see the amount of jealousy and hatred that the news of 25,000 redundancies can unleash!

Yes, top brass made some serious executive mistakes, risk management was all over the place and many workers are/were well paid, but they are so in the face of poor job security... case in point!

Tharsh, London,

I see that, as usual, we in Britain and Europe are having to pay for the Transatlantic follies.

Alex, Paris, France

How about some compassion for all the regular hard-working people at Lehman who have lost almost everything they worked for these past 5 years or more?

They are not all 'fat cat bankers' by any means.

Shame on you people who are gloating at this.

Cathy, London,

How about a retrospective windfall tax on all the executive salaries and bonuses paid out to these city wizz kids who have actually lost us so much money? And how about taking down Thatchers statue as well seeing as she paved the way for big bang and closed down the industry we now need.

Clive Stringer, Eggesford, England

If you live by the sword....

No doubt it will be the average person in the street who eventually pays.

nick matthew, london,

Bucket, water, hand, put in, wave about, take out, look at water, see you tomorrow, well maybe the day after tomorrow.

David, Dubai, UAE

Thanks Tom and Nick. I suppose that the wonderful beautiful of your spiteful comments, is that both of you are more than likely to feel some form of financial impact as a direct result of the bank's collapse.

Ed, London, UK

Lovely, how nice to see people revelling in thousands of job losses!!

James, London,

James of Falkirk...
Why is lending to people who apply for loans ripping people off? Irresponsible and unethical maybe; but not exactly ripping people off is it?

John Williams, Sheffield, UK

Someone is having toffee crisp and its not me still five years from now he & she will have a book " how i made billions in bank crash of the noughties

RSBridgman, Havant, Hampshire

Amazing - The CDIs packaged by the big american two - Fanni & Freddy were sent out into the world markets like a virus or plague. The us housing mkt crashes, the CDI's (backed to the mortgages) are worthless and the whole world is suffers. We should add this all to the US debt - can we sue the US?

David , Dubai, UAE

Have to agree with Tom, Paul; this IS bankers we're talking about. Unfortunately, most of them will already have made off with several lifetimes worth of most people's salary in last years paypacket.

Morgan, London,

Is it not time that the laissez faire attitude to finance should be changed? The Gecko of Wall Street mindset of the 1980's is
still around. They should all see shrinks to help them adjust to the 21st century.

Stephen Pain, Odense, Denmark

Obviously the tax payer of America wouldn't let the bale out happen.
America is also stapped for cash what with Iraq etc so how could they afford to bale out Lehmann,
but I don't agree with all the doom mongers who say the
bankruptcy is a good thing , think of all the employees families.

Andy Cappell, Midsomer Norton, England

Best talents, lots of money, posh offices, best facilities, crazy parties, prestigious clientels, spurious lending - can't we see this coming. Subprime is just an excuse, what about risk, portfolio management.. If you call this the top brass, its time to rethink.

Chandra, Cardiff, UK

I cannot see any logic. US Gov and federal reserve has bailed out Fannie May and Freddie Mac and Bear stearns. Why did it not do the same with Lehman bros.

Subrata Majumdar, Aylesbury,

Why is the FSA called the "City Watchdog"? Seems to me it has been blind for so long we need to put it to sleep and get another.

peter fieldman, paris, france

I'm waiting for the next UK bank to go since I can't wait to see what Brown and Darling do. Like a ticking time bomb

Michael, UK,

5 Billion down the pan then ... Why oh why can they not let the market do as it does ... filter out all fiscal corrections ...
Nice however to see the Federal Reserve and the U.S Treasurey realise the limits of their power.

Joe, Geelong, VIC Australia

Am I the only ex-Abbey customer, therefore shareholder, that is fed up with the fact that Santander's offer for A&L was a share swap, which means that as A&L's share price plummets so does Santander's, for no particularly good reason regarding the strength of the bank?

Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It would be awful. Imagine having to sell your Aston after you worked so hard for it. I can see the queues forming at the local Job Centre already...

anita, london, uk

I feel sorry for the ordinary office and support staff. They didn't make any of the decisions or receive any of the huge bonuses.

Tara, Winchester, UK

I hoe the international money " gurus" haven't fouled thing up fpr the rest of us! Well done central banking! Saviours of the world...

Bob Smith, Exile, EU

How long can the BOE keep pumping money into the financial system? What is the trade off here?

Chris, Chipping Norton,

I feel sorry for the junior people in this organisation but only contempt for senior staff and traders. Mind you they will have their million dollar bonuses from the last decade to comfort them. Perhaps they should be expected to give them back.

David Lea-Smith, Edinburgh, U.K.

Last week it was Estate Agents, this week Bankers. Just have to add Accountants and Solicitors to the fallout and it'll be like Christmas coming early.

Rob, London,

What amazes me about the financial situation in general, both in the US and over here, is that the individuals who got us all in this mess are the same ones now trying to get us out of it!

Jon, Norwich, UK

Tom,
26,000 jobs at risk has made your day? What's perfect about that?

Paul, London,

Ahhh..its a relief to see Lehmann go bust...so sweet is justice.

Eddy Clutton, Ruthin, Wales

This all started with sub-prime mortgages being salemen to thousands of the poorest people in america. The big banks let it happen they did not regulate their representitives, they just looked at all the new mortgage business coming through the door. It is now time to pay for ripping people off.

james, falkirk, uk

This has made my day. Perfect.

Tom, London, UK

Lehmann Brothers bust? Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of fellows.

D.R. Nick, London,