Luxe Life

AIG Bonus Recipients' Names Revealed

By Kimberly Castro

Posted: March 18, 2009

AIG compensation American International Group paid bonuses of $1 million or more to 73 employees, including 11 who no longer work for the company.

Pitchfork populism is all the rage these days. Take the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party protests that occurred late last month or next month's tedious planning for an even larger antistimulus movement, also known as the Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party. Discourse that claims to support "the people" over "the elites" has reached a high-pitched level as details about the $165 million payout for top executives at the ailing AIG have emerged over the past few days. And for many Americans—whose thoughts of their tax dollars falling into the hands of AIG's top executives have them downright furious—there's now something else to bite into: the names of some of the executives in the financial-products unit who accepted the bonuses. According to the New York Post , they all happen to live in Connecticut!

The three executives identified are James Haas, 47, executive vice president and the coleader of North American marketing; Douglas Poling, 48, the unit's general counsel, director, executive vice president, and chief administrative officer; and Jonathan Liebergall, 43, unit director and head of municipal finance.

Outrage

If "we the people" don't ban together to form an unstoppable force our government will continue with business as usual. While we weren't looking they became very powerful and they won't give up that power without a fight. They forgot they work for us because we haven't reminded them in about 30 years.

Please check out the Tea Parties being held in your area and lets unite to demand our country back. I'd like the 'fools on the hill' to be submitted to drug testing, background checks, credit checks and IRS checks. I am, in order to keep my job that pays their salaries. I figure that'll elimate about 50% of them. That's a start!

Outraged in Virginia

Outraged in VA of VA @ Mar 23, 2009 19:28:44 PM

Regulators? Congress?

Why aren't there people protesting outside the homes of our incompetent regulators? Where were the SEC and the FED when the banks were leveraging beyond reason? (or when Madoff was stealing away....) why are we not abusing Bill Clinton and his administration for pushing and forcing Frannie and Freddie to grow and Grow and GRow and GROW.....?

Why aren't we jumping all over the idiots in our congress that approved the bailout without even reading the document? the same morons that instead of focusing on solving the big issue are jumping at every chance they have to politicize the problems and make them a partisan issue.

I hate the bonus situation with AIG as much as the next person. However, I am quite concerned about the viciousness and force with which our incredibly weak (intellectually) Democratic leadership in congress is dealing with the problem. The speed of their reaction only guarantees that the solution will be far from adequate and fair.

I am a Democrat, but I am truly embarrassed to be represented by the likes of Frank, Waxman and Pelosi.

Appalled of NY @ Mar 22, 2009 23:05:52 PM

Confidence will only be inspired through accountablility

I would characterize the job performance of these AIG executives as totally incompetant. They do not deserve any bonus at all. The American people are not going to be "confident" and spend any of their hard earned money until these individuals like these are held accountable for their failures. Rewarding poor performance does not inspire confidence. There are plenty of other employees that could take over these jobs and perform at a higher level of productivity and judgement than these incompetants. These bonus spoiled CEO's should get out and be blacklisted from ever working in the financial world again. They are guilty of stealing from honest hard working Americans... everyone that I discuss this with feels the same way!

Buttercuppie1 of MD @ Mar 22, 2009 20:40:21 PM

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Luxe Life

Luxury is no longer the sole province of the elite. Upscale goods and services now target a much broader market. Kimberly Castro, deputy business editor of U.S.News & World Report, takes a look at the luxe life, from fine wines and cars to high-end real estate and wealth management. Though no elitist, Kim does admit a fondness for a bold bottle of Scout's Honor from Venge Vineyards and satiating her wanderlust in Europe.

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