"The discrepancy rate [between rich and poor] was far greater at t he end of the 19th century..."
You have exactly made my point. Poverty was rampant, and the middle class very small. We are again moving in that direction.
Regarding health care costs. You make some valid points about overuse, misuse, and law suits, but the fact is that segments of the medical/drug industry make 20% annual profit, compared with from 2% to 7% profit by many other major corporations.
Another point was made that part of CEO compensation increases are from stock options. This is part of the problem. Remember how Enron executives sold off their stocks well in advance of the bad news that Enron was toast. If CEO's are to be issued stock, and if it is to be an incentive to run the company well, then there should be a provision that, let's say for example, that they can only sell 20% of their share in any one year. Thus they would at least have to plan for the next five years, instead of raiding the company for their own profit.
The poverty that you talk about, was far worse back then, than it is now. Living conditions were such, that it is almost unimaginable today, to OUR own poor.
Forget the drug industry! All of those super-dooper machines and tests and LAW SUITS are what has mostly increased the disastrously high costs of health care today. And the overuse and misuse has been of criminal proportions for the last 30 years.
You really have to drop your inclination to unadulterated MARXISM. This IS a CONSERVATIVE forum. All if this damned class warfare and replies filled by same, is just out of order here. And it REALLY would be of help to you if you did some actual research about stocks and stock options, before you start talking about them. It is patently and blatantly obvious that you have no knowledge of that area.
When CEOs are given stock options, they DO have a time limit ( usually of several years ) that they MUST be held, before the options can be exercised.
The poverty that you talk about, was far worse back then, than it is now. Living conditions were such, that it is almost unimaginable today, to OUR own poor.
Forget the drug industry! All of those super-dooper machines and tests and LAW SUITS are what has mostly increased the disastrously high costs of health care today. And the overuse and misuse has been of criminal proportions for the last 30 years.
You really have to drop your inclination to unadulterated MARXISM. This IS a CONSERVATIVE forum. All if this damned class warfare and replies filled by same, is just out of order here. And it REALLY would be of help to you if you did some actual research about stocks and stock options, before you start talking about them. It is patently and blatantly obvious that you have no knowledge of that area.
When CEOs are given stock options, they DO have a time limit ( usually of several years ) that they MUST be held, before the options can be exercised.