~Now, the nation's 10 highest paid CEOs make $154 million a year as opposed to the $3.5 million made by the top 10 in 1981.
The average CEO of a major corporation makes $13.1 million a year in compensation (about $36,000 a day).
~an estimated 61 percent of U.S. corporations paid no federal taxes between 1996 and 2000. In 1974, the average CEO made 34 times as much as a production or non-supervisor worker.
~In 1980, the average CEO made 45 times the pay.
~In 1990, it was 96 times as much.
~In 2000, it was 458 times as much.
hope.journ.wwu.edu
Assuming the above numbers are true and while its only one metric, it does suggest that over the past 40 years, things have changed dramatically in the US and that what John says about it being different may well be correct.
However, I suspect you still will assert that things were as bad back in the 1950s as they are now, but then I can't imagine a Bush or Cheny saying the following:
""...Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt...and a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.""
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a letter to his brother Edgar, Nov. 8, 1954
Can you? |
