I think that these executives should be paid their bonuses, primarily because we need the people who understand these complex financial WMD's to be able to unwind them and shut the company down in an orderly fashion. When the US government decided to step in and bail them out, they essentially validated the business practices at AIG.

Also, they were keenly aware of these bonuses for quite some time, so reversal of them at this point is clearly a knee jerk reaction to a known issue based on the media.

AIG executives should receive there bonuses as there are just like any other employee in the company.

i think everyone deserves a bonus. would you like yours to be taken away?

Yes, if it was under contract, the AIG should be paid bonuses. Although destructive means, if you were in that position, I am sure that you would want that money.

A contract is a contract is a contract, but only between Ferengi.

They could do whatever they want with the money because the Obama administration was stupid enough to just had it over to them with out setting limitations. Wouldn't those dummies [Obama Admin.] know that AIG would have done some careless spending with the money? Of course, I'm not saying AIG execs deserve the bonus pay but the people who gave them the money should have had some limitations.

I think that this is an outrage. These executives are the same people who approved the credit default swap underwriting that would have tanked the company if it weren't for the US government's bailout of them. They should not be rewarded for this behavior by getting paid a huge bonus.

why should they they dont need it the company is a epic fail atm save the company kill the executives

I don't know how this could be a defensible action. It is just in such bad taste!

People receive bonuses because either they did a good job, or the company is doing well. Does anyone think either of these are the case.

This is a huge slap in the face to every taxpayer in the USA. How AIG thinks it can dole out $165 Million in bonuses to executives, including several who are no longer there, is an outrage. They received Billions in bail-out funds from the government and just now Congress is scrambling to get that money back, even if it includes 100% taxation! It was known beforehand that bonuses would be given and Sec. Geithner's job is, and should be, on the line pending investigation.

Bonuses are normally given for a job well done. How can any of these people look at themselves in the morning and not feel shame and disgrace at this? People are losing their homes, jobs, investments and everything else one can think of while AIG employees are sprinting to the bank with even more money in their pockets than most of us will ever see in our lifetimes. I, for one, am truly heartsick that these people are without morals. They are truly beneath contempt.

I'm not even American, but i would be pissed if i was. They should say to AIG, "for every dollar you get in bonuses, you have to give every taxpayer a dollar."

No they shouldn't! That is our money getting thrown into their pockets for doing what? A bad job!? You gotta be kidding me!

Oh suuuuure. We'll pay to SAVE their companies. And by "save", we obviously mean buy mansions and boats and planes, etc. This is absurd! I mean, if I were in their positions, I'd go the other way, but these bonuses are so unnecessary. These aren't struggling people who need a bonus to pay the rent.

That is like saying that what AIG execs did were good jobs. I find it to be quite on the contrary. If you help run your business into the ground you are not exactly deserving the reward a raise is. I must say that they should not and I stand by it.

After all it isn't like the gov is paying money out of THEIR pocket it is money out of OUR pocket

1.) Obama did say "spread the wealth around" though."Spending for the common good" is not equitable to "spreading the wealth." Taxation for spending for the common good is paying a fee for services rendered. For example, I pay a tax and I get military/police/fire protection, infrastructure improvements, and mail services. Taxation for spreading the wealth is paying a fee for no services rendered. For example, I pay a tax and it goes in the form of a check to someone who pays no taxes. The Communist Manifesto's second plank is, "A heavy progressive or graduated income tax." that is what obama wants to do. Right now, he's using "fabian socialism" to reach this goal.

2.) I am under the impression AIG's policy was only to pay bonuses for doing a good job. Well they didn't do a good job. However, I blame the government for intervening with legsation which stipluated they could have their bonuses.

Chris Dodd's signature comes to mind!

What you just provided me were talking points. I don't care who falls for what. The majory doesn't mean anything to me.

See: Argumentum ad populum fallacy.

What I said about the 40% is 100% true.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/ statements/2007/dec/13/fred-thompson/thompsons-tax-numbers-add-up/

I didn't lie about how Bush applied taxes either.

http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/05/13/bushs-tax-cuts-for-the-rich-actually-favor-the-poor/

http://www.slate.com/id/2108201

(slate is a liberal news source)

I don't think you know what Fabian socialism is. Which is what I suggest obama is doing. I suggest you read Ludwig von Mises Marxism unmasked as well. If I'm wrong I'm wrong,

but I won't rule it out for now, just to be politically correct.

"Obama wants to raise taxes back to what they were in the 90's for the top 1% only. He is not raising taxes on the middle class or poor."

that's a disingenuous argument.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/capping_trading_on_obamas_2500.html Read here to understand his slight of hand completely. http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/doityourself_factchecking.html

(Do the fact checking yourself, i'm not lying)

Fearmongering? I'm not the guy who compared our situation to the great depression. I'm not the guy who said if these banks fail the economy will be ruined. I'm not the guy who said: "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. What I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before." people say things like that you can't stop me from thinking about orwells 1984. Are you with the thought police? I guess i'ma

thought criminal. I'm sorry I even wasted my time on this with you. You're one of those people who care more about the compassionate republican/liberal agenda than the actual truth. My bad, I Should of known objectivy was dead!