Letter: CEOs salaries bloated, unrealistic

It’s ludicrous that in these times, when most of us are struggling financially, that the CEO of Occidental Petroleum is California’s top paid executive, making more than $60 million in salary and bonus in 2008.

I can’t think of another country in the world where the disparity between senior executive pay and the rank and file is as high as it is in the United States.

To me, it’s an ethical issue; expecting pay that’s 300 times more than an employee should generate shame.

Just recently the CEO of Tyco International was sent to prison for the rape of millions from his company.

It would take the average worker more than eight lifetimes to earn as much as this man stole, and most CEOs are still earning hundreds of times more than their employees.

There are selfish, greedy men among us, fully bloated with all sorts of comforts, while others are homeless, or without work.

The president of the firm I worked for was paid three times what I made – not out of line when one considers that he developed the company, took risks and made top decisions to keep it solvent, and in turn kept me employed – a significant factor.

Gilbert Harris

Upland