Resolve AIG bonus mess before any more taxpayer money is given out, says Flint Journal letter writer

Theresa N. Roach By Theresa N. Roach The Flint Journal
on March 22, 2009 at 4:05 AM, updated March 22, 2009 at 4:14 AM

Here's a Flint Journal letter to the editor for March 22, 2009:

I am furious.

How dare AIG's chief executive hide behind being contractually obligated to pay these ridiculous bonuses. Contractually, the company has no money to pay bonuses.

This is not its money. It is taxpayers' money.

Why aren't our watchdogs simply stating that? Is there anything in that contract that says if you take the company bellyup you have to give back your compensation? There should be.

I don't understand AIG's thinking on these retention bonuses, anyway. Why would you want to retain these people in the first place?

I think AIG officials should cut their losses and be glad they are still getting a paycheck (unlike a lot of us taxpayers) and move the company toward regaining profitability. I don't see that happening if they keep bleeding it under the guise of contractual obligations

And our president should not allow them to. I say absolutely no more money for them until they get serious about fixing the mess they made.

Marlene Rozell
