Not surprisingly, other industries are flocking to the federal government for bailouts, including the homebuilding industry. So it's worth reminding ourselves what the homebuilders did with their profits during the boom times; instead of saving money for the inevitable rainy day, they not only overinvesting in overpriced land options, but provided obscene compensation to their CEOs and other officers, who did nothing more skillful than riding a bubble.

Here are some homebuilder CEO compensation figures from 2005: Ara Hovanian, Hovnanian Enterprises--$47.83 million

Bruce Karatz, KB Homes--$135.53 million

Robert Toll, Toll Brothers--$41.31 million Stuart Miller, Lennar--$22.53 million