AIG apologists come crawling out of the woodwork

[General Zod]

]Ah. I was thinking more of the people doing the actual analysis and trades, rather than the "corner office" boys who either knew about the mess or let it happen. Now, unfortunately, I'm even more confused about the equity of taxing the bonuses, and even more doubtful (in light of your observation of death threats) that we'll really find out who got the payouts. Damn what a mess.

Only executives are the ones who have been receiving these bonuses, and only people who received bonuses over a certain amount are being taxed. I can pretty much guarantee that these "corner office boys" are not receiving bonuses in the million dollar plus range.

[Count Chocula]

Only executives are the ones who have been receiving these bonuses, and only people who received bonuses over a certain amount are being taxed. I can pretty much guarantee that these "corner office boys" are not receiving bonuses in the million dollar plus range.

Well shit. Now we're back to testing contract law, and the ex post facto/bill of attainder issue, and as much as I'd like to see the executives responsible jailed or rendered penniless, I'm out of ideas how to do it without setting new, and uncomfortable, precedents. I suppose at this point AIG's well and truly fucked and, unlike some banks, can't just return the bailout money and go their own way so we don't have to fuck over contract law or the tax code...the bastards.

[General Zod]

Well shit. Now we're back to testing contract law, and the ex post facto/bill of attainder issue, and as much as I'd like to see the executives responsible jailed or rendered penniless, I'm out of ideas how to do it without setting new, and uncomfortable, precedents. I suppose at this point AIG's well and truly fucked and, unlike some banks, can't just return the bailout money and go their own way so we don't have to fuck over contract law or the tax code...the bastards.

I don't really see that this kind of precedent is all that big of a deal, considering it only involves money they've received from the government. Unless we get yet another financial crisis in the next hundred years or so then I don't see them getting government money again once this is over anytime soon. As far as ex-post facto, that only applies to criminal law as far as I know. So far nobody in AIG has actually been charged with anything to my knowledge.

[Count Chocula]

So far nobody in AIG has actually been charged with anything to my knowledge.

And most likely will not, unless intent to defraud can be proven. All the shit they did was legal, albeit laced with false, rosy, unfounded assumptions. And the legality of their actions is the most galling part.

[General Zod]

So far nobody in AIG has actually been charged with anything to my knowledge.

And most likely will not, unless intent to defraud can be proven. All the shit they did was legal, albeit laced with false, rosy, unfounded assumptions. And the legality of their actions is the most galling part.

Turns out tax laws are full of loopholes? Impossible! Who knew!