A quick trip to Costco today for ah...toilet paper was the inspiration to gather my babes for a quick photo. It was the perfect end to a interesting day.
I had spent a few hours this morning watching the AIG CEO, Edward Libby be questioned by Congress. We have all heard and been disgusted by those who have run our economy into the ground. The news this past weekend that AIG was using 165 million dollars to pay out retention bonuses just added to the madness. The 165m was to be split up between 418 people. 73 people would received over a million each, 4 got over 4 million. 11 no longer worked for AIG but got the bonuses anyway.
The more the Ceo was grilled, the more the information became unbelievable. Bonuses are traditionally based on a company's profitability but one of the senators had a copy on a contract that stated on page 10 that bonuses would be paid regardless of the company's losses. Hard to imagine being able to write your own terms but probably harder to imagine having your name being published as receiving one of these bonuses and having to face your neighbors. Mr Libby also told Congress that he asked everyone who received over $100,000 to give 1/2 of it back. No one in the room was impressed. The government is talking about taxing the bonuses back to the people who own 80% of AIG - you and me.
It was a fascinating study in human nature and the ability to defend your beliefs without having a clue as to how hollow they sound. I couldn't do it. I couldn't begin to explain now to take greed and make it palpable to a nation who is hurting like ours. As the sparks flew back and forth, I thought about the people I know who have lost jobs, houses and their 401K's. We all know life isn't fair but somedays it strikes home more than others.
I didn't put my day and the photo together until later today and then it made me smile. After wanting to cry earlier, it balanced out what I had been feeling all day. While we will never understand how things can get so screwed up, we do understand that they do and often. This won't be the last scandal because we all know, we are capable of so much more... and worse.
Cain and Abel.
King David.
Jesus.
Craig Scott whose sister, Rachel Scott was the first student killed in the April 1999 Columbine shooting was in town tonight to speak about Rachel's Challenge. He talked about his sister and how they had fought that fateful morning and how he didn't get to say sorry. After letting her out of the car at school, the next time he saw her was in a casket. He talks these days of being kind to one another and how one person can make a difference. It was a great way to end the day. A wave of emotions that will end with prayers for all of us, and that tomorrow. God willing, we have a chance to try again...
