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Swiss referendum may limit executive pay
American Thinker ^ | 11/16/2013 | Thomas Lifson

Posted on 11/17/2013 7:30:36 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The green eyed monster, envy, is inflaming people all around the world, even in usually sensible, pro-business, rich Switzerland. The Swiss, great believers in direct democracy, are going to the polls this week to vote on a referendum that would limit executive pay to a multiple of 12 times the pay of the lowest-salaried worker in an enterprise.

Neil Maclucas of the Wall Street Journal writes:

On Nov. 24, voters will be asked to approve or reject the 1:12 Initiative for Fair Pay, which organizers say would address a growing wealth gap in Switzerland. The initiative is premised on the idea that no one in a company should earn more in a month than others earn in a year.

"Switzerland's wealth is very unfairly distributed," said David Roth, president of the youth wing of the Swiss Socialist Party, which gathered the 100,000 signatures needed to launch the ballot. "While top Swiss managers earn millions, more than 300,000 people in Switzerland have to work for a mere pittance."

The measure is unlikely to be passed, and has been losing support, probably because voters realize there would be an exit of corporate headquarters, and with them good paying jobs:

The latest poll released Wednesday, which was conducted between Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 by polling group gfs.bern for Swiss television, shows 36% of respondents in favor of the initiative, 54% against and 10% still undecided.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: communism; executives; pay; switzerland

1 posted on 11/17/2013 7:30:36 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I can’t see how this works. So the lowest employer makes 30,000 and the most the CEO can make is 360,000 a year. Switzerland is a relatively successful country. I wonder why they want to ruin that.


2 posted on 11/17/2013 7:33:50 AM PST by napscoordinator ( Santorum-Bachmann 2016 for the future of the country!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I think you should pay big for talent. The problem in America is that we pay big for no talent. Think of the business or government agency you work for. Tell me if this fits it. If the boss of your outfit ran an NBA team, he’d have LeBron James selling candy while his nephew Carl was out on the basketball court with a tennis racket.


3 posted on 11/17/2013 7:38:25 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SeekAndFind

“The measure is unlikely to be passed, and has been losing support, probably because voters realize there would be an exit of corporate headquarters, and with them good paying jobs: “

Glad to see there are some sensible people there — hopefully.


4 posted on 11/17/2013 7:43:58 AM PST by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: SeekAndFind

Say a janitor, no eduction, no training, etc., gets $10/hr, — $20,000/yr, then an executive with responsibility of running the company can only make $240,000/yr.

We all know the consequences — no executives or intellectuals will be left in Switzerland, it will become a nation of janitors — what success! (/s)


5 posted on 11/17/2013 7:47:55 AM PST by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: SeekAndFind

The “Initiative For Fair Pay” is the prelude to the “Dog Eat Dog Act.”
Even The Swiss are going bonkers.


6 posted on 11/17/2013 7:57:26 AM PST by certrtwngnut (')
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To: SeekAndFind

So much for learning Romansh and moving to Switzerland.


7 posted on 11/17/2013 8:11:59 AM PST by MUDDOG
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To: MUDDOG

So much for learning Romansh and moving to Switzerland.


Rofl!!!

This won’t pass. So keep learning... I guess schwiitserdeuutsch was too easy for ya.


8 posted on 11/17/2013 8:16:22 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: SeekAndFind

Pay them the going rate and shut up.

This class warfare thing is societal cannibalism.


9 posted on 11/17/2013 8:25:55 AM PST by DoughtyOne (Obama, the Democrat Party, the Left in the U. S., have essentially become the 4th Reich.)
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To: Innovative; SeekAndFind

Exactly...


10 posted on 11/17/2013 8:27:07 AM PST by DoughtyOne (Obama, the Democrat Party, the Left in the U. S., have essentially become the 4th Reich.)
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To: Innovative; napscoordinator

The janitor’s job would be outsourced to another company.


11 posted on 11/17/2013 8:49:48 AM PST by Cronos (ObamaÂ’s dislike of Assad is not based on AssadÂ’s brutality but that he isn't a jihadi Moslem)
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To: SeekAndFind

This, along with socialized medicine has been at the top of the progressive wish list.


12 posted on 11/17/2013 9:03:25 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks ("Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth.")
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