Your analogy is good. Actually the real NYC bankers are doing very well on our trillions. When the government and Fed wanted to give the bankers our money in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 the people said HELL NO, but both the Republicans and Democrats said sure we'll bail the bankers out. The bankers warmed that they would take a tantrum if we didn't.
The Icelanders were faced with a similar controversy except they told the politicians and the bankers that the people would not be held responsible for the debt of private bankers and they weren't. In America we can just stomp our feet and the politicians get in bed with whomever they want to all at our expense. We need the right of public referendum.
Bernanke said today he might give the banks even more (QE3) if the stock market falters. I'll wager Goldman already knew what he was going to say and they bet on the market going up yesterday and they sold today. We're all puppets to these politicians and players who use our credit and then put it all at risk.