Tuesday
Mar172009
AIG Bonus Outrage...a different perspective
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 11:03AM
First of all, let me say this; I can see both sides of this argument, debate, whatever you want to call it. With that being said, here are some facts:
- I (we) have no idea what is happening day to day within the firm AIG. From what you hear on Fox News, CNBC, and every other news organization out there, you would think that they have reporters embedded in the board room and intimately familiar with the day to day operations of the firm. I hardly believe that is the case, but just listen to them.
- I have not seen the alleged contracts that the traders and management within AIG allegedly have that stipulate the terms and conditions for the incentive pay. Again,I assume most of us haven't, or a simple Google Search would turn up such document. If you are reading this post and have knowledge of these contracts, do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.
- As for the payments that AIG is making to their customers, so of which are foreign banks and financial institutions, they are obligated to do so. They are / were an insurance company. They insured against risk. Those firms paid premiums, heavy premiums in some cases, to insure that risk, and they want their money based on the policy they have. It is like you and I would do when our house is blown away by a hurricane, or is destroyed by fire; we would expect to be compensated for that, because we hold and insurance policy to insure us (and our lien holders) against that risk. Same principle; really it is.
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[...] I have touched on mortgage backed securities as well as some of the complexities of AIG and the bonuses they received earlier this [...]