Sam had a bad day. He not only didn't get a raise, he got his benefits cut.

Sam really needed his healthcare and could've used a little more money, but he accepted his shrinking world and plodded on. Knowing he was going to have to cut his teenage son's rent subsidy, his shoulders slumped.

Sam was told his company was in trouble, it might need to be bailed-out and "they needed everyone's cooperation to save thousands of jobs". Sam was for saving thousands of jobs, including his own.

Sam decided to tighten his belt and work harder and smarter. As lead widget-maker he'd have to, since they faced tough competition from Chinese widget-makers.

Sam had to go to a stock-holders meeting that night. The suits explained why the cuts were needed and their commitment to the stockholders and their love of profits. Sam agreed, the "health of the company was imperative".

Everyone cheered, Sam joined in, cheering his own cutbacks, to promote healthy profits.

The next day million-dollar bonuses were passed out to the executives for their: Inexplicably exemplary strategy of running the company into the ground and getting the masses to agree to concessions. Based on the fear of losing their jobs, which would've cost them their healthcare.

Which of course led to increases in Sam's stock value by cutting Sam's income and benefits... Kudos all around.

Later that night Sam sprung from his sleep sweating, chest-heaving... feeling conflicted.