No Marine, you are missing the point. Everybody can still advance and get promotions. The only thing is that the guys getting Millions a year will be capped. That has nothing to do with the guy on the loading dock who wants to be promoted to group leader or supervisor.
What did the CEO of Exxon do to deserve the money he makes? Does he deserve so much more that the guys in field? I am talking thousands of times more in salary alone. Not counting his stocks and perks. Perks the little guy can't get because they go to some guy who could never spend them in 20 lifetimes.
Every once in a while the system has to be adjusted. We do it with taxes. Bush and Reagan and Kennedy lowers the tax rate at the highest levels. That is an adjustment. This is the same type of thing. Salaries of these top guys are way out of control and need to be kicked back down.
I still go by the free market theory - companies must feel these guys are worth it if they are willing to pay them these amounts. There is a lot of competition for the top jobs - and companies pay a lot for the top guys.
How are the CEO's any different than any other job? How about the guy who invests his money and gets lucky on a few stocks? Should his investments be capped?
How about pro athletes? (I know everyone thinks these should be capped and in some sports they are). Why should any pro athelete make more than $1 Million per year? Why? Because someone is willing to pay them more than that.
The one industry people forget about is entertainers. Should Bono make the kinda of money he does? What about Justin Timberlake? What about actors?
The beauty of a free market economy is that you are typically worth EXACTLY what someone is willing to pay you. I don't begrude anyone making more money than me. Typically they are have a more unique skill or something that sets them apart.
But knowing that the sky is the limit in terms of income - anyone has the opportunity to make as much money as they possibly can - is what makes this country of ours so great!
And don't get me started on taxes! The stat that knocks me on my a** every time is that the top 1% of income earners pay 40% of the taxes in this country! Somehow that doesn't feel right. I'll bet they don't make 40% of the total income of the country!
How about a flat tax rate (say 20%). No exemptions, no deductions. Everyone pays 20% of their income - no exceptions. The rich will still pay a higher total dollar amount - but still 20% of their income. Same for the poor.
Now that would be fair. It will never happen though.