Not all are rich. Some are employees who believed into the company for which they worked. Some were relying on portfolios including Washington Mutual for a good retirement. Some were in funds invested in Washington Mutual, and won't know part of their investment has been wiped out.

Screw you, says Mr. Gross. We can savor your cruel fate because the real people haven't been hurt.

Here are quotes:

WaMu's failure will cause real dislocation—stockholders and many bold-holders are likely to be wiped out. But WaMu's depositors will be made whole.

...

It's a big headline and a big story, but in the scheme of things, a blip. A large boat slipping silently below the sea while all the passengers escape with their lives. This system is a force for order.

[End quote]

As you know, Mr. Gross, not all the passengers escaped. Just the ones you decided to care about on your way to making your point about how wonderful bureaucrats are and how effective government is.