New Bank of America Logo, Sign of the Times

I often wonder what goes into the decision making of some of America's companies. The American people have felt as though they have been mugged by the federal government as it confiscates their income in an attempt to bailout Wall Street's fiscally irresponsible financial institutions. One of the biggest beneficiaries of that bailout, and a company that has just this week gone back for more, is Bank of America (requesting and going to receive an additional $20 billion, adding to the billions it received and making the bank the biggest beneficiary of the bailout at $45 billion).

In the last couple of days I was driving home and I noticed something different about the Bank of America branch just a few blocks from my home. It was entirely trimmed in red! The blue "Bank of America" words are now floating in what looks like a red ocean. It is actually a very ominous sign of the times.

For the millions of Americans who are offended by mega corporations receiving bailouts, this seems like a very odd memorial to the debt ("in the red") we are all in. The Bank of America seems to be celebrating this financial blood bath. It is the Bank of America's way of thanking us taxpayers for the tens of billions it has received in a bailout.

That leads to another issue. So the Bank of America has hit hard times. They line up like all the other financial institutions, car companies, porn executives, and other white collar free loaders at Capital Hill, and actually receive billions of dollars. Among the first thing they do is change their signs? I would think that would be expensive for the many branches. Following this expenditure they turn around and ask for more? You have to give them credit for their audacity! But the person who was behind this new sign decision should really be looking for another job.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.