Uh Oh, more drama with Obama!

hah. The title of this video is funny, but what's actually going on with AIG is not even the slightest bit funny. Everyone knows the insurance giant doled out millions in bonuses after the government bailed them out. Not only is this obviously unethical, but it has been taking the U.S. government longer than preferable to figure out a constitutionally acceptable way to take that money back (since it's our taxpayer money). The clips mocks the inefficient processes and procedures of the new treasury cabinet, who wouldn't be in such a tough position if true capitalism had let those big institutions fail like they should have. I think it is absolutely unbelievable that a corporation so publicly recognizable tried to get away with this after the government stepped in and saved their ass.

What was also unnerving were the comments Obama made in his conference regarding how long it took him to respond publicly to the situation. An irritated Obama makes the statement that it took him so long to make a statement because he "likes to know what he's talking about before he speaks." He gets a little defensive in this CNN clip.



Okay, I understand not wanting to sound like an idiot in front of the American public. I mean, look at Bush, the guy says strategery once and never lived it down, poor guy. Now at least those who blamed Bush for the economic crisis can now see that the economy is a CYCLE and no person can single-handedly affect that cycle. Anyway, I disgress, but I don't think it should have taken Obama more than a couple hours to have his cabinet brief him on what is happening and make a statement that the government acknowledges that what AIG did was wrong. Come on, anyone can hear that story and know it's completely unethical, especially in business. So I don't buy in to him liking to know what he's talking about; isn't a president supposed to be able to respond quickly in a time of crisis? Yes they are.

On a larger scale, I hope ethics don't continue to suffer as much they seem to be lately. With all the scandalous news about fraud, bribery, and prostitutes, one can't help but think the moral code of America has gone down the shitter. I guess now is no different than anytime in history though, and one thing is for sure, if you want to hear a sad story just flip on the news.