Holy crap! Has it really come to this?

As our country struggles to fully come out of the biggest recession since the Great Depression, companies and the stock market are doing pretty well, but for middle class Americans, the deep loss in jobs has not recovered yet.  When I read this article in the NYT today, I just had to shake me head.  Why would anyone think this was a smart move for a business, or our country?  Why would any sane person accept this kind of treatment of our fellow citizens?