Finally

I find this to be a compelling story, primarily because it gives you some clear insight into the world of the corporate CEO.

At that level, the money is amazingly fluid.

Immelt has declined a multimillion dollar performance award. GE stock is simultaneously sinking lower and lower. In fact its possible that it may soon sink below $10 per share when less than a year ago it was valued at over $35 per share.

Do we applaud Immelt's decision to refrain from the award - on the surface, it looks like a concerned decision, straying from the expected greed of others in a similar position.

As we have mentioned before, many people rely on dividends for income. At this point I am not aware of GE cutting dividends but it would not be a surprising move if it did happen. Immelt is demonstrating responsibility in an economic crisis.

Yahoo: General Electric CEO declines bonus for 2008

General Electric Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt declined a 2008 bonus and millions of dollars in performance awards, saying Wednesday that the company's falling profits and plummeting share price prompted him to forgo the payments.