In hindsight do you think a $40 million compensation package was appropriate for the CEO of a company teetering on the precipice of an implosion?

And so it goes, Lehman Brothers, one of the oldest wall street firms boasted huge profits at the end of 2007, Only to show enormous write downs at the beginning of 2008, $3.5 billion to be exact.

How is this explained?In the midst of major write downs, how does a major player profess to go unscathed and not raise eyebrows? Ironically, there are those who would advocate less government involvement, when in-fact the government is and will be a major player. looked to by Lehman for support, the government is showing a vote of no confidence and ushering the proposal of a sale. No time to analyze how this was allowed to happen. Instead we get a knee-jerk reaction to assuage the major investors, like the New Jersey state pension fund.

To what extent can we expect the government to provide a financial lifeline? Or will Lehman be on the block at rock bottom pricing, negating the need for federal funds? Clearly, the general consensus is an all out sale.

Do we dare ponder the next one in line to stumble, maybe even fall? The thought of it is probably so impalpable that even the most jaded of financial analyst shudder at the thought. 

As an aside, in a recent conversation with real estate professionals and investors, the concept of the "euro" for the north American continent was discussed. If you recall, there was interest in creating a currency that could be used by Canada, America and Mexico, much the same as the euro in Europe. Well, as we continue this downward spiral, the value of our currency becomes more closely aligned with our neighbors, thereby giving rise to the thought that this concept may once again be on the table!