Home

"I never am upset [misplaced modifier] when someone makes a profit," said Golden-Hogan. "I am upset when the ratio of a CEO's pay to a worker's pay is 475 to one. Somehow those guy's [wrong use of apostrophe] don't seem smarter to [suggest "than"] me."

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-indianapolis-police-prepare-for-occupy-indy-protest-20111007,0,3981426.story

Okay, you've defined income as a measure of worth.  You've demonstrated a poor grasp of English usage.  You've contradicted your own absolute of "never."  You've defined a certain income ratio as unacceptable to you. You've implied that ratio as a standard. There are, at most, 500-1000 CEOs earning that level of income.  That is far less than 1% of the population.  A quick google suggests that, approximately, anyone earning under $1 million, or with a net worth of under $3 million, is part of the "99%."  The number of billionaires is far less than 3 million people.  Your standard fails analysis.  If the CEO's efforts generate 475 times more profit for the company, and its employees and investors as you could, then it would be worthwhile to pay him commensurately.  Looking at the balance sheets of the Fortune 500, it appears they do so.  Your standard fails for poor comparison.

Now, you and 150ish of your friends showed up in downtown Indy today, and walked around for an hour or so before most of you got tired and left.  The police report your friends complaining about the 80 degree F heat.  Having done construction in the Arabian Desert in a war zone for 12-16 hours a day during sandstorms at 115F, I can totally sympathize with your plight.  However, it could be that a dedicated CEO would benefit from a little more dedication to the cause.

I noticed a number of Starbucks cups, McDonald's bags, Gap shirts, even a couple of name-brand backpacks.  It seems you do appreciate the corporation. 

It also seems you had to juggle your busy schedule to take a day off, and parade around with signs on my behalf.  I can totally dig the difficulty.  I wanted to be there myself, but my kids wanted to do something as a family, and I had some income-generating contracts to work on.  I didn't see a sign with my message on it, so you'll have to do it for me next time.  Please make one that reads, "I'M PROTESTING DADDY'S MUTUAL FUND!"

Okay, seriously now: Why is your protest doomed to fail?  Because you're not too bright, not too dedicated, have no coherent position, and are shallow and lazy, as well as enjoying a standard of living that 99% (See what I did there?) of the people on Earth can only dream about.  You can't pay your student loans? That mother of 8 in Bangladesh totally sympathizes.  You have a car, but it's tough to make payments on time? That guy in Zimbabwe with the wheeled cart feels your pain.  You had to work overtime?  The Egyptian contractors we had overseas understand.  If they'd had overtime on top of their 72 hour workweeks, they'd have been sad.

Your attitude, intellect, self-chosen education or lack of same, self-created debt and lack of determination won't get you a job as a CEO.  It might not get you a job as anything.

The whole thing looks much like wetting one's pants in a dark suit.  It gives one a warm feeling, but no one notices or cares.

I am the 99%.  And you don't speak for me.