Or is it that when billions of dollars are on the line, quibbling over tens of millions is far too risky?
I don't know about anyone else here, but when I think about being CEO of my company, it does not look like an attractive job nor one I am qualified for. Now to do this for a giant org with tens of thousands of employees. I mean I could take the job to get a golden parachute as a "Fuck you, got mine" maneuver, but I would ruin the company and destroy many lives and careers in the process.
I find CEO pay to be up to the market, and I don't think the market is wrong.
But the market can be wrong! In many situations. In fact, it's only "right" under the most ideal of circumstances, perfect information, perfect competition etc.
Then there's the question about what kind of right we're actually talking about here. To an ideal market, right is distributing resources to optimize profit. But if some people are less profitable than others, that clashes with other, arguably more natural, notions of "right".
Again, if you want to go throw your hat in the ring, be my guest. Clearly it's very easy to a lot of people here. Good luck
Even if we agree with that, then what?
Put another way: Who has a greater right than the equity holders of those companies to set CEO pay levels/limits?
> compensation to the top 25 hedge fund managers equal the combined salaries of all kindergarten teachers in the country
Those are people who deserves (have the right) to be compensated better for their work. It's a failing of the market, the system, a moral and cultural failing that they are not.
I refuse to belive we can not tweak our economies to value peoples work more fairly.
I think your cynical vision of how operating a large business works is wildly incorrect and is a left-wing fantasy.
No matter how easy it is, I believe that success is more dependant on staying in line with the existing network than any real merit.
Unfortunately the market value of a handjob from a non millionaire is closer to that of a big Mac than it is a C level position.