When the heat is on, modern captains of industry never fail to take care of themselves at the expense of others, particularly the people they exhort to work harder, better, faster, smarter.

Tribune execs are a shining and audacious example of what is wrong with contemporary American business. Tribune CEO Randy Michaels fears that he will be asked to step down when the company emerges from bankruptcy, so as compensation, wants 2.5 times his salary and bonus if that comes to pass.

My recollection is that when they were laid off on Michael’s watch, my fellow former Courant journalists got two weeks pay for every year of service to the company. Some folks, I believe, got half that after the company went bankrupt.

Michaels wants 24 months of the company’s medical benefits if he is cut loose. Gerry Spector, the COO, wants the same.

The monstrosity of these requests is exceeded only by the gall and arrogance it takes to actually make them.