Should shareholders vote on executive compensation?

I think it's a great idea, but that it would border on the dreaded "socialism" so many bemoan. Our American concept of capitalism is polluted by the notion of total government noninterference--and that view is (albeit strangely, given the situation of the average citizen) very popular.

But a more practical solution is this: changing corporate law (or bylaws as they're written from company to company) from requiring corporations to act in the best interests of their shareholders alone to requiring them to consider societal goals. Right now, as the law stands (in all but a few states), corporations are required to maximize profit, regardless of consequence. Their only focus, by law, is maximizing profit--and the consequences are only constrained by the government. People don't know this, but this is the **** that leads to BP.

There's a larger argument that is worth much about the merits of capitalism that turns into oligarchy (i.e., our current system), but that would be a relatively noncontroversial change that would actually force some real change in the system.

Not necessarily a law, but it sounds like a good idea. I've seen quite a few executives receiving obscene salaries while the company actually returns a loss. If shareholders could vote on their remuneration that wouldn't happen.

... It depends on if we want a middle class in this country or not. Frankly, I do. I like the idea of the maximum amount of the people in the country living well, having equal opportunity as much as we can make that happen, and able to get ahead by their own efforts -- like it was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

A middle class is an artificial construct; it doesn't happen naturally. It is created, or as it's being done now, destroyed by the rules our government sets.

I like the way Japan does it with CEO compensation. From time to time Pluto C. Rat talks about that here and it's quite interesting. Bears looking into, IMO.

No.

A responsible culture should merit logical application -- such as in Japan where executives refuse anything over that of double the salary of regular staff. I suppose you could call that "ethics," but actually it's culture and tradition -- which you've replaced with rich class legal industrial complex.

Ante up to the rich.

Spoken like a true liberal!

So, the market can't take care of this one...we need to have the government involved?

edit - government passing a law requiring corporations -- that makes you a liberal!