http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080922/financial_aig_willumstad.html

American International Group Inc's (NYSE:AIG - News) former Chief Executive Robert Willumstad has rejected a $22 million severance payment, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the decision.

At least one of these guys isn't a complete douchebag?

Someone who believes in Karma, obviously....

Quick, someone give that man's phone number to Mccain; he is in dire need of talking to someone who can remind him of the concept of integrity.

I must say that is one bright spot in this day.

That is probably chump change to the guy.......

Democrats on NPR were discussing CEO severance pay and how they would never let the bailout bill pass without language that would deny the severance. My guess, he wanted to come off looking like he had some integrity rather than have to give it all back after the bill is passed.

Based on his past, he was the former head of Citigroup, he didn't need it. But, really, how many of these greed and power hungry assholes do need the the money they take from these companies. At least this shows he has some scruples.

I do want congress to change the bailout so absolutely none of the money goes to the SOBs who caused this fricken mess. Buy the loans, and help troubled homeowners restructure them.

Yeah, don't get me wrong. I'm sure he a) doesn't need it, and b) knew the other shoe was likely to drop soon. It does still set him apart from the others in my mind.

For that matter, how many of us really need every dollar we make and only spend on necessities? I suppose it's all relative?

It's completely relative. Not to derail but . . . I have friends of varying income levels and each and every one of them is just as "broke" as the other. They can all hardly scrape by.

I think it is in a song somewhere, "Happiness is not having what you want, it is wanting less (or not wanting at all)". Something like that anyway.

Live within your means, it's really kind of simple but few actually practice it. I think allot of that comes from your upbringing. Some people bounce thru life living paycheck to paycheck and will spend money they don't have b/c they really want that new widget and then will turn and put their hand out in front of someone else asking for help to pay for it.

This is why I feel like at some point the average joe needs to own up to their mistakes and learn from them. Like someone else pointed out, capitalism means if you fail you fail, not if you fail you get bail.

I think it is in a song somewhere, "Happiness is not having what you want, it is wanting less (or not wanting at all)". Something like that anyway.

Sheryl Crow touches on that, "It's not getting what you want but wanting what you've got".

I may not need every dollar I waste, but I can honestly say that I did not screw over my employees to earn it.It's completely relative. Not to derail but . . . I have friends of varying income levels and each and every one of them is just as "broke" as the other. They can all hardly scrape by.Again, no sympathy from me. I have some friends who give me the same line, always broke, while they make three times my salary. Almost every single thing they own is purchased on credit, and their credit payments are higher than my monthly salary. They constantly complain about not having enough. This I think is at the heart of the American problem. Not bragging, because I could certainly shore up my budget, but my wife and I have money to waste because we carefully budget two small incomes in order to have fun when we want to. Those living on borrowed credit are hurting this nation, and I have little sympathy.