CEO salary compared to workers

[Mathematician]

Sometimes, but, overall, I don't think so.

Compare US CEO salaries to that of China.

China's capitalism is absolutely appalling.

 

[nutshell]

China's capitalism is absolutely appalling.

Exactly.

Comparatively, we're not that bad.

 

[yossarian22]

I agree. The Man and his capitalist puppets [or is it now the other way around?] should be abolished henceforth on the day after a revolution. Then the workers of the world are free to reign over the fruits of their own labor. A price cap still allows the giants to play with us like we're toys; it just limits their influence.

If the workers decided their own wages as a single unit, there would be no triple-digit differences, I assure you.

Marxism works well in an idealistic world. We do not live in an idealistic world. Quit pretending otherwise

 

[Yerda]

Marxism works well in an idealistic world. We do not live in an idealistic world. Quit pretending otherwise

Fighting for a higher wage is not inherently Marxist. I don't think Gene is a Marxist by the way.

 

[yossarian22]

Fighting for a higher wage is not inherently Marxist. I don't think Gene is a Marxist by the way.

From this post it sure seems like he is.

The Man and his capitalist puppets [or is it now the other way around?] should be abolished henceforth on the day after a revolution. Then the workers of the world are free to reign over the fruits of their own labor. A price cap still allows the giants to play with us like we're toys; it just limits their influence.
If the workers decided their own wages as a single unit, there would be no triple-digit differences, I assure you.

He is not a pure Marxist (nobody is at this point), but his post has very Marxist thoughts in them. It is also ridiculously idealist. The moment capitalism goes away is the moment that product quality goes down the tube. The moment government (I assume that is what "The Man" is) goes away is the moment capitalism goes out of control.

I'm all for higher pay, but such idealism is ridiculous.

 

[Yerda]

From this post it sure seems like he is.

He is not a pure Marxist (nobody is at this point), but his post has very Marxist thoughts in them.

Marxists come from the same intellectual and rhetorical school as other socialists. Class war is a common theme, although most Marxists I know don't inherently oppose the state.

It is also ridiculously idealist. The moment capitalism goes away is the moment that product quality goes down the tube. The moment government (I assume that is what "The Man" is) goes away is the moment capitalism goes out of control.

LOL! You two have fun battling that out.

 

[yossarian22]

Marxists come from the same intellectual and rhetorical school as other socialists. Class war is a common theme, although most Marxists I know don't inherently oppose the state.

A pure Marxist wants a strong socialist state, but the problem with that can be seen in the former Soviet Union. The strong state doesn't want to be dismantled.

LOL! You two have fun battling that out.

Surprisingly few people believe this, but the former Soviet Union is another good example.

 

[Sunstone]

Great disparities of wealth create political problems that can lead to authoritarian governments.

 

[Mathematician]

Jaiket is correct. I'm not Marxist. I'm just a simple socialist. I have no aspirations for communism, just allowing the workers and the small men/women to share their deserved portions. The wealth disparity has always been too large. Right now it's returning to record heights, despite the best efforts from social democrats. .

The Man is the capitalist state. I do not oppose government if it belongs to the people. What we have now is the bourgeoisie punting power every 4-8 years.

 

[yossarian22]

Jaiket is correct. I'm not Marxist. I'm just a simple socialist. I have no aspirations for communism, just allowing the workers and the small men/women to share their deserved portions. The wealth disparity has always been too large. Right now it's returning to record heights, despite the best efforts from social democrats. .

The Man is the capitalist state. I do not oppose government if it belongs to the people. What we have now is the bourgeoisie punting power every 4-8 years.

A workers revolution is an extremely Marxist idea, so forgive when I assumed you were Marxist after mentioning one. I have no quips with socialism in and of itself, but Marxism is one of the most naive ideologies.
Also it is the upper class punting power, NOT the bourgeoisie, which is basically the middle class.
The Capitalist Government and the Capitalist Puppets? your original comment makes no sense with your definition

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

http://www.portfolio.com/infographics/2007/06/salary_comparison

Runaway salaries?

Man, CEOs seriously need some kind of salary cap. This nation could use even a portion of their combined salaries to improve our roads, schools, health system, and other civic structures.

Well, once you give the government the right to limit one man's wage, you've opened the door for the 'Man' to dictate everyone else's salary as well. Without any doubt, that is one of the most dangerous and stupid ideas ever conceived.:149:

Kind of like sports players whose salaries are restricted in one league to give more teams a fighting chance?

Kind of like teacher salaries that are limited by the government so that they won't make what they really earn?

 

[yossarian22]

Man, CEOs seriously need some kind of salary cap.

If we cap their salaries so they get paid similar to workers, what is the incentive to be promoted?

 

[Yerda]

If we cap their salaries so they get paid similar to workers, what is the incentive to be promoted?

Probably not a great lot. The point here isn't equivalent wages, just closer. Most important is probably getting the guys who do the actual work of the company out of poverty level earnings I would think.

 

[yossarian22]

Probably not a great lot. The point here isn't equivalent wages, just closer. Most important is probably getting the guys who do the actual work of the company out of poverty level earnings I would think.

Oh come on. Workers in the US are not anywhere near the poverty line. While 27K is not a lot of money, it is hardly near poverty level, unless there is only one person earning the average worker's salary with a family of 5 in Alaska.
I do feel that the money used for a CEO's severance pay should instead be used to raise worker's wages though.

 

[Smoke]

Oh come on. Workers in the US are not anywhere near the poverty line.

A lot of them are.

While 27K is not a lot of money, it is hardly near poverty level,

If you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, at the federal minimum wage, you'll have a little over $12,000 before taxes. If you work 60 hours a week, with time and a half for overtime, you'll have a little over $21,000.

 

[yossarian22]

A lot of them are.

Unless there is only one working parent, I doubt it.

If you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, at the federal minimum wage, you'll have a little over $12,000 before taxes. If you work 60 hours a week, with time and a half for overtime, you'll have a little over $21,000.

So? That is minimum wage, which is still above the poverty level unless you have a large family, or live in Alaska. Furthermore, it is not difficult to get pay above minimum wage. Hell, the Togo's down the street has starting pay $3 above minimum wage. When you talk about company workers, I assume the guys who work in factories, not at McDonald's, and mean pay is 27K a year.

 

[Smoke]

Unless there is only one working parent, I doubt it.

The 2000 Census found 28% of households with children under 18 headed by a single parent. About 78% of those were headed by a woman.

So? That is minimum wage, which is still above the poverty level unless you have a large family, or live in Alaska. Furthermore, it is not difficult to get pay above minimum wage.

You can make quite a bit more than the poverty level and still find it very difficult to make ends meet. I know people who work three jobs and not don't live extravagantly.

When you talk about company workers, I assume the guys who work in factories, not at McDonald's, and mean pay is 27K a year.

Why? Do think McDonald's isn't a company?

 

[yossarian22]

The 2000 Census found 28% of households with children under 18 headed by a single parent. About 78% of those were headed by a woman.

How big is the average family? It does not take much to get a $5-$10 above minimum wage.

You can make quite a bit more than the poverty level and still find it very difficult to make ends meet. I know people who work three jobs and not don't live extravagantly.
Why? Do think McDonald's isn't a company?

Difficult to make ends meet is nowhere near poverty, which is difficult to get a solid meal every other day.
McDonald's pays minimum wage for a very specific reason, it has virtually no basic requirements, if you want to earn more then minimum wage, take a few courses at a community college

 

[Reverend Rick]

Why do folks only think in terms of the minimum? Why would we want to limit the maximum? Why do people only work the minimum required hours or pay the minimum payment on their credit card?

Why would we limit the ability of anyone to be all they can be? If you want to make it big, you have to think big first. If you think in terms of the least you can be, that is truly sad.

Minimum wage is for young folks living at home or old folks enhancing their pension and getting out of the house.

If you are in your mid twenties and making minimum wage, that speaks volumes about your education, ambition and work ethic.

Servers in eating establishments work for less than minimum wage and receive tips. They know that they will be rewarded for their excellence. Some people in this industry make very good money.

 

[Mercy Not Sacrifice]

If we cap their salaries so they get paid similar to workers, what is the incentive to be promoted?

For many CEOs, there's only one incentive they need. It starts with a P, ends in an R, and has an O-W-E in the middle.

That, in my mind, is more than enough of a bonus. What gives them to right to hog so much cash in addition to that?