AIG bonuses, caffeine cossacks and socialism...

Start with the whole flap over those AIG bonuses.

These things were probably in place long before the economy tanked. Can you spell "contractural agreement"? As in, "if I don't get the money promised, I'll have grounds to sue your asses." Not something any company already in financial trouble would want to attempt. Pay the money, short term pain vs. long term gain.

And 165 million compared to over 170 billion given AIG to bail it out of trouble? Chump change. Really, look at it. It takes ONE THOUSAND millions to make a billion, so less than one thousandth of the amount given AIG is being paid out in promised bonuses. Hey, let's bitch about the upkeep of their parking lots and the groundskeeping expenses while we're at it.

The best way I can grasp the furor is via the following. With the War Department's job and my retirement we'll gross just a tad over 85K this year. Which is kind of embarassing since our kitchen floor consists of the concrete foundation slab with a few coats of paint on it, the house is 25 years old, we're a single car family, I keep sweets on the left side of my mouth to avoid the cavities on the right, etc .

Looking at those items we'd seem to be idiots when it comes to money, right? So let's look at how this could break down.

One thousandth of 85K is eighty-five dollars. Divide it by twelve months and you get seven dollars and a teensy bit of change (not even the tenth of a cent). That would be the amount I pay for my coffee grounds every month.

I'm sure there are some caffeine cossacks somewhere who would scream that my spendthrift ways with the bean directly reflect the irresponsible way the WD and I handle money. I hope they're getting the help they need. Seriously.

FWIW, we also spend several thousand a year addressing our children's autism concerns. That includes private preschool and therapy sessions. I won't go into the rest of our budget, by now you realize theres a tad bit more to the story then my mainlining coffee 365 days a year.

So IMHO the flap over that 165 million is just as ridiculous. Yes, the amount staggers those of us not making several hundred thou a year. So does 160 billion. But after awhile it's all just numbers.

But by allowing the focus to stay on those stinking bonuses the present administration is deflecting attention from their steady stream of money being poured out of the public coffers and into the socialization of our nation. Check out the news and how greater government control is being pushed, ostensibly so there are no more "travesties" like the AIG bonuses.

Remember, that money DOESN'T come without strings attached. B.O. & Co. are pushing ahead with socialized medicine, greater control of ALL private institutions and a greater secularization of our country.

Most of the regular readers here will already know this crap and wonder why I preach to the choir.

Gotta vent the frustration somehow and maybe once in a blue moon a new face will show up. Someone who might say, "I didn't know that!".