Is it just me, or is this getting a little ridiculous? I am tired of hearing about these companies throwing money around….MY MONEY! I believe in capitalism; I believe in free market. I do not believe in limiting the success of privately owned companies or individuals. I do not believe in government intervention of privately owned companies or individuals. These are NOT privately owned companies. The banks and car companies lost their right to make decisions of this nature when they came begging for a bailout. I would think that is a pretty good indication that they are not capable of making sound financial decisions. I think I could have written the bailout stipulations and made sure these companies were using MY money wisely. Could the writers of this plan not have done the same thing? Don’t worry, that was a rhetorical question. I think we all know the answer!
This link describes how AIG has sent money to oversees banks. This is beyond disturbing! On top of bonuses being given to executives with MY MONEY, oversees banks are being supplied with MY MONEY.
I understand that it was in the contracts of the “lucky” execs to receive these bonuses. What I don’t understand is how a company can justify contracting XXL bonuses while posting XXL losses. I guess I am speaking from a small business owners mindset but if my business is losing money I equate that to the team not doing it’s job. My employees get bonuses, but they are directly related to profit they bring to the business. Again, I think any number of small business owners could give these companies pointers on “common sense” business practices. I know that running a corporation, such as AIG, is very different than running a small business. I think, however, that those of us posting profits without seeing million $$ bonuses have a small right to speak up! We live in a backwards world right now. So, with as little sarcasm as possible, here is what I am hearing Washington say to me: “Yes, you are doing such a good job paying your mortgage, let’s see if you can help pay other people’s too” or maybe “Yes, you are successfully running a business, showing profit, working non-stop….you keep doing that while we keep throwing money at people who have been greedy and wouldn’t know INTEGRITY if it hit them in the face” what about this “We know you loathe the 15th of each month when you have to send in your tax payments but you have to understand we need to take as much from you as possible to keep all the people not working their asses off from losing their houses and Escalades. Come on Anna, you know everyone deserves an iPhone!”
Do I sound angry? Hell yeah, I’m angry. I know I am not the only one making the right choices and feeling like that is being punished. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be rewarded by the government by doing the right thing. I just don’t want to be punished for it.
FYI: Obama is calling for the AIG bonuses to be blocked and has made the same point I did. He says it is “hard to understand” why they are deserving of the $$. This posts was not a stab at Obama (surprise surprise) but of our government in general. And yes, I do understand this began under Bush. Just thought I would clear that up!
