Just Plane Stupid

What is with these corporate executives and their fancy jets? Haven't they ever heard of Jet Blue? Okay, fine, I don't expect them to really ride with the masses, but it's ludicrous that Citigroup had the audacity to take the government's -- make that our -- $45 billion to spend it on a souped up jet. This news comes months after those knuckleheads from the Big Three all flew to Washington, D.C. in separate private jets to beg for money. Perhaps MTV should consider a "Pimp My Jet" series.

Consider the specs, according to Maureen Dowd's column today:

As The Daily Beast and CNBC reported, big-ticket items included curtains for $28,000, a pair of chairs for $87,000, fabric for a “Roman Shade” for $11,000, Regency chairs for $24,000, six wall sconces for $2,700, a $13,000 chandelier in the private dining room and six dining chairs for $37,000, a “custom coffee table” for $16,000, an antique commode “on legs” for $35,000, and a $1,400 “parchment waste can.”

This $50 million toy, was fittingly made in France. If Marie Antoinette were around, she would no doubt occupy one of the 12 seats. There are so many better ways to spend that money. For instance, if you divide $50 million by the median income in the United States (roughly $43,000), you come up with the figure 1,162 -- which means Citigroup could've kept on that many people. Instead, they've laid off tens of thousands of their employees.

Although the company claims it has canceled its order for the plane, this episode certainly spotlights the stupidity and arrogance of their executives.