CEO pay vs average worker pay

I'm still unsure why inequality itself is a problem. Poverty? Sure. That's a problem. But, inequality? Why?

And, assume for a moment that we could all agree that inequality was a problem. Is there a solution that would fix it? Is there a proposed solution that wouldn't have a ton of unintended consequences, causing a while new set of problems?

I think we waste a ton of time and energy trying to "fix" something that isn't possible. Our time would be better spent on fixing what is possible.

 

CEO makes millions. Middle managers make six figures. Line worker makes $40K a year. Big fucking deal. That's the way things have been, are, and will be.

If you want to make more, learn more, move up, get a better job, start a company yourself, do what it takes. Otherwise, shut up and quit bitching about the world not being 'equal' in regard to pay scales.

 

Holy Fucking Strawman. Where is anyone asking for equality in pay? This isn't Soviet Russia.

 

There are renowned economists - Nobel winner Joseph Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, respected journalist Timothy Noah - who say it hurts growth.

 

That's true, but there are plenty of heavyweights who argue the contra, too, and not all of them are the usual suspects. Krugman, of all people, has taken issue with some of Stiglitz's assertions here. Hell, they can't even agree on whether it's a big problem or not. For example, just looking at money income, the gap looks very wide (and it looks to be getting wider). But on other measures -- total compensation, total compensation + transfer payments, consumption -- the story is very different.

 

Jesus, could you have missed the point more?

Nobody suggested a line worker should make the same as a CEO, and of course there's always gonna be large disparities. But the current ratios between top and bottom are NOT how things always "have been", instead this is something new, as they've been multiplying at a startling rate like we've never seen before the last couple decades.

THAT's the issue. Why the dramatic change? And is it better or worse for the country than how it was in 50s through 80s? Not whether there should be frickin equality.