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Andrew Bathgate

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On average are the CEO's of the top 100 companies worth their salary?

In my experience many of the top CEO's seem to fall in to their positions by being well connected rather than being particularly talented. This does not apply to those that created their own company. They then manipulate their compensation to far outstrip what the market would set it at if it were working correctly.

Topics: Compensation corruption inequality motivation
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  • David Saia

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    Nov 28 2011: I understand that the history of America's development was more than the tax issue. As a student of history, I'd summarize it as an attempt to make our way without oversight and intervention. In short, it was a place where greed was unchecked, and not reserved for the wealthy.

    No matter how long the debate, I'll never agree that high taxes lead to greater achievement. At the same time the tax rates were high we began buying anything and everything- personal spending on products that are still in our land fills was high as well. It was when what we had became the measure of the person instead of what we are and who we are. That was when the rich got richer and the country produced a government of platitudes and of inattention to the needs of the poorest of us. It is also when we created lifeless public spaces and the shopping mall, and the individual was reduced to a cog in the wheel, culture and religion and family began tearing apart under the strain of expecting the government to be all things to all people. We rely too much on government, and vote for people wholly unable or unwilling the concern themselves with real life in America. They want only to be re-elected. We have lost our reliance on ourselves and the value of community. When half of what we earn goes to the government, there is no point in working, at least working for money.

    Andrew, we will, I suspect, never agree on these issues and should likely stop. As it's your thread, please feel free to have the last word.

    • Andrew Bathgate

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      Nov 29 2011: I believe the revolution was opportunism. I am glad that it happened, I dont think the USA would have done as well as part of the British empire which was far from a meritocracy. But as I said that is a long and complicated debate.

      Here are the FACTS about the top tax rate
      1918 ->top tax rate was 77% And the following decade was the roaring twenties
      1929->top tax rate reduced to 24% And the following decade was the depression
      There was negative growth in the USA until the year after top tax rates were increased to 63%
      From 1944-1963 Rates were over 90% and we had the golden age
      But in 1970 top tax rates were reduced from 77% to 70% and suddenly the USA got stagflation, we lost our first war (Vietnam), we could no longer go to the moon.
      Reagan dropped them again and we had a debt crisis.
      Bush Sr and Clinton raised the top tax rate and we got the booming 90s.
      Then Bush Jr reduced them and well... you know what happened.

      I rest my case.

      If I must provide the last word let it be shibboleth

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