Addressing The Blame Game

What is all the outrage about? AIG has become synonymous of “big business gone wrong” and the average citizen simply can not understand why executives are getting outrageous bonuses, while he or she is working long hours with no relief in sight. Taxpayers are wanting reaction and they have every right to question both sides of the controversy.

President Obama has stood up and taken the blame. He is politically under fire. But, the situation is very serious and extremely complicated. The bonuses were allowed by the stimulus bill. Nobody seems to know how this slipped by Congress. This is more fuel added to the fire.

AIG CEO Edward Liddy has taken some potshots, but he is the new CEO and had nothing to do with previous engagements. Congress jeered at Liddy, only exasperating the situation, after the fact the bonuses were distributed.

Accountability is the issue. Citizens are demanding answers about why the country is enduring such horrific conditions, and they have every right to do so. But, it is difficult to decipher to whom the blame should be directed. Government or Wall Street? Both?

Popular anger is connecting and things are finally getting done. For instance, Citibank has received $45 million in bailout money, but it won’t be purchasing that $50 million private jet as planned. Poor guys.

Executives are now taking forms of public transportation. They are more than ever under scrutiny when it comes to raises and bonuses. Conspicuous consumption has caught up with Wall Street and the pressure is on.

In reality, the public has lost faith in government and trust in corporations.

Equilibrium is currently what is necessary. The damage has already been done. Government and business must now act in correspondence and repair the breakage, while an increasingly alert public keeps proximity on both.