what!

possibly they were contractually obligated to pay them , but still, outrageous...

That's what happens when the federal governement gives money with no String's attached. All these financial institution's have pensions to pay, the people recieving them may have grown on to bigger things, and may serve as a represenative of the company ( giving back to their roots), just like i rather get a job for a family member than a regualr joe of the street. Paying pensions sometime's earn returns, but only to that company. Hopefully there is a payment plan set up between gold and the feds, if not, this is ludacris.

Between hearing what you posted above and what is written here: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/12/goldman-sachs-r.html ...I also wasn't speechless but what I said certainly isn't printable!! They got $10 billion from US, the taxpayers, they're still paying out up to $400,000 in bonuses and their tax rate for 2008 is 1%! WTF!! Annie

I saw this as well, I posted something about this as well. It really didn't surprise me to hear that they were giving out bonuses, it surprised me that people were upset that they limited the amount to $400,000. Now last year, some employees made over a million in bonuses, but like you said this is a company that took $10 Billion in taxpayer money. I am sure it doesn't surprise you that Hank Paulson is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs. Just another example of politics at it's worse.