Insurance or Investment

AIG is giving its executives an additional $165 million in bonuses. $55 million had previously been distributed. Taxpayer money to the tune of $170 billion was used to initially bail them out. The bulk of the money will go to executives in the department that was responsible for the risky contracts that caused the massive losses. AIG lost an additional $61.7 billion in the 4th quarter of last year. WTF! The AIG Chairman, Edward Liddy has told the Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, that, "It could be harmful to the company if the government continued to press for reductions in executive compensation. We cannot attract and retain the best and brightest talent to lead and staff the AIG businesses, which are now being operated principally on behalf of the American taxpayers -- if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury." I say the government should make it "harmful to AIG" to hand out additional bonuses. Don't pay the bonuses! Let those who were to receive them sue AIG or the government if they believe they are really owed them. Try to justify losses of this magnitude. I wouldn't mind paying for this lawsuit.