I see American top executives as criminals in the category of armed robbers: armed with power they take money they haven’t earned.

In 2004 the ratio of the average CEO pay to the average worker pay in the US was 475 to 1. In Japan it was 11 to 1 and in Canada, 20 to 1. We must look at more autocratic countries to even find it close: Venezuela is 50 to 1.

This specter has been with us for decades, but only after many of these same leaders in the US brought us near economic Armageddon, their companies into or near bankruptcy, and their hands out to the taxpayers, do we even start to question their obscene pay.

Inexplicably, the obscenity of their pay still continues, and we can surmise that it will not stop until their company is literally in the toilet and perhaps we are all on the dole.

Let’s look at some examples of what their leadership has brought us, never mind the undeserved millions it has brought them.

Japanese executives of Toyota, earning pennies compared to American executives, brought their company to the position of number one seller of cars in the world, replacing GM whose executives pulled in hundreds of millions of dollars per year, this while dragging GM to bankruptcy.

Meanwhile American titans of finance, after a rapacious greed-fest of dragging us through the muck of relentless risk-taking, are still paying themselves millions for their failures, this while collecting a taxpayer bail-out of billions.

If American business leaders are more than 20 times better than foreign chief executive officers, would you not expect much superior leadership and intelligence, including leading their companies into the realm of advanced technology and innovative techniques of management?

Why did many excel by giving technology to developing countries like China as they outsourced many manufacturing tasks and technical methodologies?  Was it because Chinese leaders were more wily, more driven, and more intelligent? And was it because American executives could personally receive even more short-term pay and kudos in the process?

Why did Boeing executives outsource most of the major aircraft assemblies for the Boeing 787 to Japan, Germany, Britain and South Korea? Was this superior management for the long-term, wanting to keep their technological edge and skilled workers near?

And why do other countries enjoy superior and cheaper internet access, better and more cost-effective health care services and seemingly better educated citizens? Does the American economic pie only cover excess executive pay and corporate bailouts?

I think we will find that more unbridled greed, narcissism, and a short-term myopia is all that we bought in skills from our overpaid executives.

Certainly while they continue to rake in personal fortunes, the current evidence has brought this home to us: recession, bankrupt state treasuries, lost jobs, debt, unfunded human investment, and worn-out infrastructure.

Because public money was used (in the hundreds of millions) to bail out these firms, AND ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT, do I agree the government has any right or role in what executives get paid.

If the stockholders and others to whom these “top managers” answer agree that more of the profits go to them then who is the government to say otherwise?

That said, I find it difficult to justify in my own mind the astronomical salaries and bonuses paid. “In order to get top management talent we MUST pay these big salaries,” is the cry from the Board.

I say BS. Or at least BS until any given manager has been in the job long enough to legitimately claim personal credit for any improvement in the company’s financial picture. This does NOT include windfall profits from being lucky or in the right place at the right time.

If a CEO comes up with an original scheme and puts it into action which results in a significant increase in profits, THEN and only then should a bonus even be considered… and even then, it’s unlikely the CEO did it all by himself, so it’s share the wealth equitably amongst ALL who contributed to the success.

“Golden Handshakes” should be made illegal. I don’t care what it says in a “contract”... you leave and you get maybe a month’s salary. If you get fired then presumably it’s for some “cause.” It should be “bye-bye” - don’t let the door kick you in the ass on the way out. This nonsense about taking hundreds of thousands with you is pure BS-theft. That money belongs to the company and stockholders.

Are we speeking here over the USA, or Israel, is the top intelligentia in the USA only made up by Jewes citizen, I think to much gives the wrong picture.

Salutations