Is this really necessary?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/13/AR2008111304446.html?referrer=emailarticle
American International Group plans to pay out $503 million in deferred compensation to some of its top employees, saying it must tap the funds to keep valuable workers from exiting the troubled insurance giant.
News of the payments to top AIG talent comes as the federal government has just put more money into saving the company from bankruptcy, beefing up the total public commitment to $152 billion. Meanwhile, members of Congress are questioning the company's expenditures -- including lavish business trips to resorts -- during a time when taxpayers are on the hook for the bailout.
AIG's troubles stem from bad bets it made guaranteeing and buying risky mortgage investments. On Monday, the U.S. government announced that it would have to expand its rescue of the company to nearly double the $85 billion loan it first provided in September when AIG was unable to pay billions of dollars in claims.
Treasury officials said earlier this week that they had imposed some of the most stringent limits ever on AIG executives' bonuses and compensation in exchange for the broader bailout. ....
As a taxpayer, since I know have a vested interest in AIG, I am willing to run the risk of letting some of their "top performers" leave.
Exactly where in the **** are they going to go?
