[jeffls]

A panel of recommendations is a euphamism for a group of people had their collective ideas counted and came to this conclusion and will now publish that conclusion. In other words, their ideas were counted as votes, in one form or another, and a decision was made based on that result to recommend. If it wasn't a vote, it wouldn't be a panel decision it would be a dictated decision by a dictator.

So I assume you then believe the UN carries little weight in political discourse....

No one forced the companies to pay them out they did so willingly to keep their talent. What is being forced is the collection of those bonuses by the govt. And no, extraordinary circumstances don't give the gov't the right to renegotiate contracts between private citizens. Extraordinary circumstances is as broad a definition as "for matters of national security" that can esaily be classified and concealed. Just look at the patriot act. And I am sure there are a million reasons why it would be a good idea and in someones interest to renegotiate fairer terms for one side of the party but for everything you take away from one you give to another and apparently we have decided that the gov't has full authority to pick and choose who wins and loses...