Calculate Your Own Pay If You Were a CEO!

AFLCIO ^ | January 22, 2002 | AFLCIO/parsifal

[parsifal]

Recently I have been involved in several threads dealing with minimum wages, fair wages, and taxes on the wealthy. Somehow, even though I am pretty "conservative", I manage to be on the opposite side of most freepers on these issues.

So, for fun, and for a view of the "other" side, I present some links to the AFLCIO website.

Calculate your pay if your were a CEO

There are other fun things on the site. Browse around here and play the "Greed" game:

CEO Paywatch and "Greed" Game

And if you are interested in "living wages" and have some questions:

FAQs About Living Wages

[parsifal]

Hey, sometimes you ought to read stuff you don't believe. You might change your mind. But if not, you at least can argue your side better. parsy.

[parsifal]

Ping. parsy.

[Texaggie79]

Why don't they do one for professional athletes? That would be even more "shocking". But it's fun to pick on our bosses huh? Good CEO's actually work hard.

[Freee-dame]

I have always wondered why unions didn't bargain for wages as a % of top salaries, instead of for so much an hour pay hike.

[RightOnline]

I would argue that unless you've ever been the CEO of a corporation and have had to shoulder the responsibility for running such a "ship" while being held responsible for shareholder value, then it is neither proper nor even possible for you to effectively criticize the pay packages of CEO's. You must also recognize that most of their packages are loaded with stock options and other kickers tied to performance. That's a purely capitalist approach. Anyone can find examples of CEO's raking in large bucks while their companies spiral down the crapper, but those are the exception rather than the rule (and also indicative of incredibly stupid or weak Boards of Directors).

[TomB]

How about "Calculate Your Own Pay If You Were a Labor Union Leader!"

[parsifal]

"Why don't they do one for professional athletes? That would be even more "shocking". "

True. Batting averages are inversely proportional to salary. parsy.

[Texaggie79]

Everything you try to argue on is from your "feelings". What YOU think is fair.

Try debating facts every once in awhile and you might find that you agree with most freepers on keeping government out of the economy.

[parsifal]

Did you try it? Were you shocked? You got to admit it is clever. parsy.

[parsifal]

"Everything you try to argue on is from your "feelings". "--So I'm sensitve. That's no sin. And as far as "facts", I have heard an awful lot conservative economic "theories" paraded around this site as "facts". Truth is, a lot of them are "feelings", too. parsy.

[TomB]

Did you try it?

No. Why should I?

Were you shocked?

What would shock me? How much "other" people make? That is silly and juvenile.

You got to admit it is clever.

It depends on what you consider "clever".

[Hodar]

I agree. The work, time and sacrifices a CEO makes at any corporation are tremendous. They earn every cent, and put their careers on the line with every decision. Contrast this to Hollywood ... $20 Million+ for a movie?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Agreed, Tex. My uncle was CFO for an athletic shoe company for several years. He helped bring the company out of the shadows and helped make it huge. When he retired, the owner decided to try his hand at doing it. After 10 months, the board called my uncle back in, promised him beaucoup bucks to bring the company back to where it was, along with performance bonuses and the like. He doubled their expectation...because he was good at what he did...and they doubled the money he had been promised.

Of course, he didn't have to do it, and the company could have just kept going into the tank until it just fell apart, thereby having a lot of jobs lost, etc etc...

[parsifal]

Ah, come on. Be a sport. Go back and see what your raise would be if you were "elite." You're not afraid, are you??? parsy.

[TomB]

Ah, come on. Be a sport. Go back and see what your raise would be if you were "elite." You're not afraid, are you???

Sorry, I don't have the time, inclination, or inherent jealousy to worry if I'm "elite". And I already know what the going rate for a CEO is.

[parsifal]

Well I can't make you do it. But I sure bet you would if it was a "Calculate Your Welfare Check" spot on a conservative website. (There! Have I shamed you into it yet?) parsy.

[jackbill]

A factor that most people ignore, as it pertains to "high salaries" - CEO's, real professionals, athletes, actors, etc. - is the income tax. When these people agree to a contract, they know that half of what they get will quickly go to the government. They decide what they want, and then double it.

Most of them didn't get to where they are by being stupid.

[TomB]

Well I can't make you do it. But I sure bet you would if it was a "Calculate Your Welfare Check" spot on a conservative website. (There! Have I shamed you into it yet?) parsy.

I'm not sure I understand the connection between the pay of a CEO and someone's welfare check. But then again, I'm sure you don't either.

[parsifal]

I am referring, of course, to the well-known pro-business prejudice of most freepers. In the eyes of most freepers, the rich/haves can do little or no wrong, whereas the poor/have nots, well, who cares about poor/have nots. Let them eat cake.

But still, methinks thou dost protest too much. The calculation starts with your 1996 income and shows you what it would be if you got raises the way CEOs do. How could any rationally cuious person NOT want to know this???Frankly, since so many freepers have this great interest about the impact of taxes on prices, I am amazed by the lack of concern about how CEO salaries affect prices and the workforce. parsy.

[Texaggie79]

It is a fact (not feeling) that minwage laws hurt the lower wage workers.