[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!"

[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.

[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.

[m1911]

Aah goody. For a long time everyone complained because the CEOs made money even when the companies did bad. So they started getting more compensation in stock, or at least tied it to company value. Then the stock market ran wild, so the CEOs got really rich. Now that's bad. The bottom line is ALWAYS:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah IwantBobbiesnewtoyhowcomehegetsanewtoyandIdon't?I'vebeengoodandIdidn'tgetanewtoy Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[m1911]

BTW, according to the amusing calculator, I am making about a third what I would if I were THE SOUL OF EVIL, oops, I mean a CEO. I like the idea about the "if I were a Labor Union Leader" calculator.

[VRWC_minion]

You are forcing a false comparison. The true comparison is what these guys would make on their own not what I get paid.

[VRWC_minion]

Somehow, even though I am pretty "conservative

In any case, I cannot recall one conservative issue you agree with. Remember when I told you you should change to dem party that you would be more comfortable ? You should change your description of yourself. You will be more comfortable as a liberal.

[Djarum]

1996 Annual Pay: 1/100

Wow! Would YOU Be in Luck!

Today you would be making an amazing $3 a year if your pay had grown as much in the past five years as an average CEO’s pay.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? But that’s nothing compared with what you would be earning five years from now if that amount of pay kept growing the way a CEO’s compensation does.

In 2005 you would get paid $7!!

[GOP_1900AD]

I would be happy to simply see American CEOs (and their first couple of layers of reports, for that matter) become real Americans, and to drop the internationalist, pro-UN, pro-EU, pro-Fukuyamaian dweeb mentality. Then, once we had achieved recognition of the creed of Borders, Language and Culture among the high and mighty minions, we might be able to have a rational discussion regarding value add versus compensation. I value the cessation of suicidal internationalist behavior much more than redistributing income within corporations. In fact, I am not sure I value this last bit at all....

[Chief901]

If I were to caculate my salary, then I would probably be in the top 1% of wage earners, the Rats would then want me to pay all of that and more in taxes to fund their programs, and I would be "evil rich". I just can not take the chance.

[CubicleGuy]

Hey, isn't it comforting to know that the contents of a CEO's brain, and his (or her) capacity for being a more efficient worker (by a factor of 10 or 20 or more!), makes him or her worthy of the scads and tons of money that the Board of Directors chooses to throw at him or her?

We can't go about just giving these types of jobs to just anybody, you know. Standards must be maintained. These people must be capable of projecting the image that these big corporations feel is representative of their goodness, propriety and morality. Can you imagine the scandal that might follow should it be discovered that the President of some big corporation actually enjoyed bowling, for goshsake? Nobody would be able to take that company seriously ever again.

[Doohickey]

Funny thing is, the result was only $20,000 more than I make now, proving that anyone that works hard can improve their lot in life...

[Straight Vermonter]

I actually out did the CEOs! I don't think I'll be able to keep it up for the next 5 years though. LOL

[Flying Circus]

WOW!!! I am doing better that the average CEO in pay increases! Using my 1996 income as a base line, I am nearly 20% ahead of where they project a CEO being.

The answer is simple- education and opportunity. If you aren't satisfied with your income learn how to make more and look for the opportunies to do so. In this country there is no good excuse to do otherwise because they are out there everywhere.

The crap on the website you linked is exactly the reason I HATE the unions. They are built on nothing more that envy and greed of the average worker and only truely serve the corrupt union leadership. They pervert the economic relationship between pay and productivity and are the major reason for the loss of manufacturing in this country. If the company I work for was to go union, I would resign that very day because I don't want to see any more lazy union lackeys sit on their a$$e$ in union protected jobs getting paid for the work I am doing.

[patent]

LOL. I tried the CEO calculator and the funny thing is that I've had a bigger pay raise then it calculated. Of course I was a student in 1996. ;-)

I'd love to stay and join you, I'm probably one of the few freepers who buys into voluntarily paying people a living wage and all that, but time is short and all.

Good luck, patent

[HamiltonJay]

It is unarguable that CEO and executive pay in the mid 90s through now has been insane... the system was ignoring reality in nearly every way for many reasons (booming times etc). However, reality is scaling those excesses back, and as the market stays flat (which yes people it will be doing so for QUITE A LONG TIME! Just look at the P/E ratios even today, they are all still way way too high traditionally) You will find that these types of things will not continue to ballon insanely.

In fact, many former CxO's now can't find work, because quite simply they should have never had a CxO position in the first place this is most of the startup/internet industry from 95 on. In larger corps, they also had booms, but are locking down spending to more tranditional ways..

I still don't think you are going to see "equity" as some people want, but the 50% a year increases are over. That doesn't mean a company will not pay big bucks to bring in a competent and proven Exec if they desperately need it... but the free pass is over.