It has been a volatile week in the U.S.  That goes without saying, I think.  From questionable uses of the taxpayer bailout money to the executive bonuses paid to not only the AIG execs, but other companies paid out bonuses as well.  The same companies the taxpayers have mortgaged their futures – and our children’s future – for.

Even though President Obama is willing to take blame for some of the problems, it still remains to be seen who all were involved in allowing the mis-appropriation to be made to begin with.  Senator Dodd?  Liddy?  The Treasury Department?  I think they were all responsible for the mess to a degree.

One thing’s for sure.  We can’t settle for the “blame me” game.  That’s just not enough this time.  The people who caused the problem need to be dealt with in a timely fashion.  We need to show the world that we do not condone shady behavior and back alley deals.  Remember, this behavior is the same behavior that doomed the previous administration.

So, in my honest opinion, Obama needs to show us really what he meant by “transparency.”  He needs to make violators of the policy accountable for their deeds, because we can not – nor should we allow – the continuing tactics of the last administration.

The failing AIG company received $180 billion in bailout money from the taxpayers.  It’s reported that they still paid their executives nearly $220 million in bonuses.  How can that happen?  What are the bonuses based on?  It’s quite obvious that they’re not based on company performance!  Tim Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, doesn’t have a good explanation.

The next time we give bailout money to a failing company, it shouldn’t be given unless the company receiving the help agrees to suspend all bonus payments until the entire government loan has been repaid.  The money-hungry execs who got our economy into this mess do not deserve a bonus.  Period.

Our government leaders?  Either regulate the bonus mess before they’re given our money disguised as a bailout or let them fail.  Period!