Why are these people handsomely rewarded for failure?

At one time in the western democracies, there was a general attitude of fairness in business. It was an unwritten code of morality and those who violated were exposed, humiliated and shunned. Now, business is as predatory as possible. Industries have adopted the credo, “Greed is good.” Banks, credit cards, mortgage companies, insurance companies, for-profit hospitals, all try to get every nickel they can from the people who are least able to protect themselves. It's as though all of American Business has been re-trained by a sleazy, fast-talking used car salesman. Never give a sucker an even break. It's unrestrained greed and it's as ugly as sin.