Bernie Madoff's pants don't just cover up legs that nobody in their right mind wants to see, according to the New York Times. No, they symbolize everything that's wrong with the world. In an article about the financial meltdown's impact on the super-rich in Palm Beach, Florida, they talk to David Neff, the owner of an upscale men's store. Mr. Neff smartly named his store Trillion to prepare shoppers for his $6,800 jackets and $800 shirts.

Bernie Madoff was a frequent customer at Trillion, and one day he dropped in and fell in love with a pair of pants. The store didn't have his size, so they called Italy and ordered a pair. Worsted spun cashmere that "doesn't pill," "doesn't wrinkle," "feels like the skin of an exotic pet." $2000.

Unfortunately, Mr. Madoff was arrested before the pants arrived. When Mr. Neff heard, he sprinted for the phone to charge Mr. Madoff's credit card, but by then it was too late. The card was cancelled. And now the unclaimed pants hang on a rack waiting for somebody who wants "plain-looking charcoal gray pants" and has $2000 to blow.

The Times reporter says the pants are the perfect symbol of the financial crisis. Just a few short months ago, buying them might have seemed a little extravagant. But now, really, you'd have to be nuts.

We're less high-minded and more bitter. For us the pants will symbolize the economic meltdown in another, more concrete way.

Madoff used to be rich and smug and untouchable, living in a hyper-rich world the rest of us couldn't even imagine. Now that he's headed off to a jail cell, though, anybody who's even remotely curious can get into his pants.