The bigger question at work here is whether the “too big to fail” mantra was actually sound economic philosophy. If AIG had gone bankrupt it probably would have created total economic collapse. Yet people would have figured out a way out (necessity works wonders). Now we’re dealing with the same thing, but with a government completely out of money and options. We may never know the answer, but whether or not the reaction to the AIG bonuses is justified rage or ignorant populism is simply a sideshow to this concern.