<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/17sorkin.html?em">The Case for Paying Out Bonuses at A.I.G.</a>

If you think this economy is a mess now, imagine what it would look like if the business community started to worry that the government would start abrogating contracts left and right.

As much as we might want to void those A.I.G. pay contracts, Pearl Meyer, a compensation consultant at Steven Hall & Partners, says it would put American business on a worse slippery slope than it already is. Business agreements of other companies that have taken taxpayer money might fall into question. Even companies that have not turned to Washington might seize the opportunity to break inconvenient contracts.

I tend to agree. It sucks hard, but those contracts need to stay valid, otherwise what good are contracts?