Retroactive taxes on bonuses are not a help

I just read http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/business/20bailout.html?_r=1&hp

I think this is really awful.

For those who do not work in finance, I know it may be hard to feel sorry for those who make over $250k, but consider that people may have made financial planning decisions based on money that has already been in their bank accounts for months! The decisions may have included spending that the economy desperately needs on college tuition, homes, cars, electronics, and, well, anything else. I don't even understand how this is going to work. If the money is already spent, will the government foreclose on their homes?

I think the payout of large bonuses is outrageous, but forcibly recouping the money is not going to be any help to the overall economic situation. We should be mad, but maybe it's worth asking government why they didn't attach any terms up front?

I also know that the TARP funds were force fed to few banks on the list, not because the banks were in real need, but so that there would be public perception that the government was backing up the banking system. It is especially unfair that their employees should be punished.

--Disclosure: I do work for Goldman Sachs, a TARP funds recipient, but am not at the level that would be affected.