GREAT ADAPTATIONS

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This is an addendum posted on March 26th, 2009, and related to the resignation letter by Jake DeSantis to the CEO of AIG. I think it is very important to read his letter. If I understand this correctly, at least in his case, he was not receiving a bonus at all. It was deferred payment for many months of long hours he had faithfully put in. Rather than remove my post below, I leave it as an early response to this debacle. If you want to feel more informed, do follow the link and read Mr. DeSantis’ letter.

Jake DeSantis Resignation Letter

Haven’t we had just about enough?

I’m just going to toss this idea out. If you like it, spread it – in that special Internet exponential way. Tell Jon Stewart. He could really do something with it.

So we’re looking at the Sunday Chronicle, and people at the table at the coffeehouse are all up in arms about how “AIG is paying” these huge bonuses to their executives. Everyone feels both enraged and helpless, and that’s a terrible combo of brain chemicals.

I haven’t felt helpless in a long time, at least not where anything media-related is concerned. The more I engage new media, the more empowered I feel. We really can organize now to raise a great big voice (and a stink where stink is warranted) on absolutely any issue before us.

So here’s my idea.

How about we do some research and make a list, go one by one through the recipients of these bonuses. Name them. Talk about them. Interview them. Let us all see, through this big shiny transparent lens called the Web, who the actual people are who would accept these bonuses.

Someone take it a step further. We don’t even need Jon Stewart. You video pros out there. Make a quick, simple video and stick it on YouTube. Take this issue and dramatize it. One idea is to have a young boy or girl asking their dad (their dramatized AIG-bonus-accepting-dad), “Why do we need all that money, Daddy? Why are all those people so mad at us, Daddy?” And, yes, roll those names.

Maybe this is a terrible idea. Maybe it seems like a witch hunt. Your comments are invited – as a matter of fact, if you’re reading this, do me the favor of letting me know by responding in the comments. Tell us what you think about it.

Transparency in new media is powerful. We might even find some CEOs who are NOT accepting these sickeningly huge, irrational, untimely piles of moolah. That would be really great. Shine the big light and see if something good pops out. We could all use that.

Get a little bit more active on social media. It doesn’t have to be a big time sink. Write a simple blog, learn a bit about Twitter and see what’s really happening in that conversation. More voices is a good thing.

To our empowerment as caring citizens,

Suzanna Stinnett

Use the exponential Internet to further this conversation by putting a hash tag in your posts: #AIGangst

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