Insurance giant AIG to pay $165 million in bonuses

[losturmarbles]

Yes, attempting to increase profit by any means necessary to drive up share prices, appease investors, and garner new investors. Sorry, I don't have a benchmark. It's a judgment call.

you dont have a benchmark, but clearly you know theyre guilty of it.

my definition of greed falls along the lines, that the person (or corporation) doesnt care about the consequences of his actions in order to obtain more whatever, usually money.
but greed is irrelevant. the fact of whether or not someone cares or not is irrelevant. the only thing that matters is the actions.
did aig break any laws or any ethical standards? they are only guilty of making bad choices and the market (if left without government trying to control it) will punish bad choices.
if anyone is guilty of being greedy in this situation, it would be the government in it's quest for power and control over the people and business.

[MonkeyF0cker]

I'd agree for the most part, except for that last sentiment. Businesses run the government in my estimation. Our politicians are nothing more than parroted puppets. The businesses lobby, write legislation, fund campaigns, etc. The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act is a prime example. There was no impetus for it other than these corporations lobbying to have those regulations removed. While I'm certainly not for heavy government involvement, those regulations were in place because of similar conditions in the tide of the Great Depression. Deregulation for the sake of deregulation is also not a wise course of action. However, I was certainly not pleased that they were bailed out and were able to freeroll on taxpayer dollars. I think it goes far deeper than simply poor choices. When people's homes, pensions, 401k's, etc. are put at extreme risk in addition to those corporations' livelihood, it would seem to me to be extremely unethical.

[reno cool]

I'd agree for the most part, except for that last sentiment. Businesses run the government in my estimation. Our politicians are nothing more than parroted puppets. The businesses lobby, write legislation, fund campaigns, etc. The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act is a prime example. There was no impetus for it other than these corporations lobbying to have those regulations removed. While I'm certainly not for heavy government involvement, those regulations were in place because of similar conditions in the tide of the Great Depression. Deregulation for the sake of deregulation is also not a wise course of action. However, I was certainly not pleased that they were bailed out and were able to freeroll on taxpayer dollars. I think it goes far deeper than simply poor choices. When people's homes, pensions, 401k's, etc. are put at extreme risk in addition to those corporations' livelihood, it would seem to me to be extremely unethical.

I think this part should be read again, by you geniuses who love the free market and business but hate govt involvement. you guys are something. It's not some poor workers or mothers on welfare who run it.