[Cobra64]

"Americans are right to be offended when the extravagant salaries and severance deals of CEOs ... bear no relation to the success of the company or the wishes of shareholders,"

Someone should inform this jerk that the stockholders elect the Board who approves executive salaries.

If the stockholders don't like executive pay, sell the stock.

[brownsfan]

“Someone should inform this jerk that the stockholders elect the Board who approves executive salaries.

If the stockholders don’t like executive pay, sell the stock.”

Yeah, and if a business is smart enough and powerful enough to get a complete monopoly, why should government interfere?! /< sarcasm>

So you’re saying, if I own XYZ Co. and the board hires a CEO that’s a nitwit for a huge amount of compensation, tough? So, when said nitwit tanks the company and makes Cramer’s list of buy when fired, too bad? And when I lose 50% of the value of my stock, but the CEO glides out on a golden parachute, that’s just how it should be?

[M203M4]

If the stockholders don't like executive pay, sell the stock.

BINGO. The assent is built in - invest if you like the whole package, divest or stay away if you don't. There is plenty of room for improvement in the regulation of corporate (and I will give McCain credit for at least verbally supporting corporate tax reductions), for example, by deferring most regulations to the states, where the forces of downward harmonization will be able to keep regulations and taxes low, and prevent an exodus of capital and jobs to international business havens ("but we will be better off in our pure state without these unAmerican capitalist traitors!").