Not so long ago, the trampled masses would storm a palace or two. Now they bay for bonus clawbacks. Sadly, modern retribution is no less mindless. A movement is building to go after the bonuses paid to those deemed responsible for the current financial crisis.

Last month, the New York State attorney-general demanded that former executives at AIG, the stricken insurer bailed out by the government, repay their ill-gotten gains. Now UBS, responding to anger towards the bank in Switzerland, plans to discuss “the issue of repayment of previously granted incentive awards” at a special shareholders meeting.