Robert Shiller at Town Hall this Thursday.

[zorfon]

First of all... None fo the execs make a "salary" of the millions you guys are talking about. Usually, the big number talked about include stock optons. These don't always make people rich depending on how they are structured. The intent of stock option based compensation is to link the reward of the executive to the performance of the stock. Generally (in non-bubble situations) the performance of stock is related to the performance of the company. Though lately this has been somewhat disconnected.

Second, the free market should decide compensation... Just because you aren't making the zillions of dollars they are is just sour grapes on your part.

Third.. Do you all understand what drives people to create the successful companies that most folks in this country work at? They created the companies because they wanted to get rich. Nobody ever got a job from a poor man.

As for the speeding ticket issue. Just because your rich doesn't mean you can speed as much as you like. In all states I'm familiar with in the US, if you get a certain number of tickets in a certain time -- you lose your license.

[Markor]

On #1, if I'm the CEO and have no scruples and you give me a zillion stock options, I'm gonna run that company into the ground to boost the stock price in the short term and cash out. When the company goes bust I'll take my $20 million parachute.

On #2, if you give me a $billion in salary, I'll give $500 million to the RNC to ensure the Republican gets elected and then all my company's losses henceforth will be paid for by the taxpayers.

On #3, if it wasn't a few big companies controlling monopolies and oligopolies, it could be tons of middle-sized companies. I might have greater choices of employers, more competition for my skills, and a higher salary.

On the speeding ticket, you really don't see anything amiss with Gates getting only a $100 fine, just because there's a limit?

[rose-colored-coolaid]