Bank Shareholders Should Determine CEO & Officers Pay

I don't know about you, but in the past I have given a cursory glance at pending issues in the materials sent about a bank and just signed. Now that we have learned, through TARP and other 'bailouts' exactly how much of bank profits have gone to the CEOs and other officers, I need to look carefully at what I sign. It's pretty obvious why the banks paid off their 'bailouts' so soon. Now, the money is theirs again to do with what they will. [salaries, bonuses].

If possible, I would like to attend the yearly shareholder meetings. Why? Because I would like more of the share of the profits, proportionate to the salaries and bonuses going to the bank officers. That argument that if I don't pay these officers enough they will work elsewhere would be mute if all bank shareholders decided these amounts for their bank and held the line. Don't the shareholders own these banks?

And do we really want the guys who got us into trouble still working for us?

Our lack of judicious rules for this industry, not to mention business in general, has put our country in economic jeopardy too often. The solution is to have the shareholders take control of their money and demand proper operations and rules. That old expression "speak up" still works.

Constituants---What are they?

Today, Sen. Hatch walked out of a bi-partisan meeting because he was disatisfied with it. Did he stay to make sure his constituants were represented in any other issues that might arise? NO.

Recently, a Republican stated on national TV that he was upset about bi-partisanship because he was not included in any health care photo ops. What on earth did that have to do with making sure his constituants were represented and progress was made in providing health care for them.

Such pettiness is not only disrespectful, it's a waste of my taxpayer money.

Attitudes toward health care reform

On June 18, 2009, George Will, discussing health care issues on c-spanwj, actually said that he "doesn't hear" 20% of people "clamoring" for health care change. Based on US Census Bureau [7/08] figures there were 304,059,724 in US population. So, approximately 60,000,000 have no health care insurance. The total cost of ER care for uninsured patients per year, which would no longer exist under health care for all, would yield a very substantial saving toward any health care plan.

What troubles me: How many 'pundits' and , unfortunately, members of Congress have any feeling at all for people who can barely pay for food and shelter, let alone health care? How many "pundits' or members of Congress, have had to go to an ER in desperation for needed care because they couldn't afford to pay for a doctor's visit?

These uninsured people are not 'clamoring' because they have no voice. They have no well-paid lobbyists pushing for their interests. Some would not probably know how to 'clamor'.

Leslie Graham now says the cost of a government option is prohibitive. Some people strongly support the inclusion of such an option. It would have to be efficiently and intelligently managed.This would allow more choice, an important component of any fair health care system. Again, let's remember the substantial saving when ERs are not used by uninsured people.

Our country's people deserve decent, available, affordable health care. Yes, this means we'll have a whole new system. This means change and change is hard to face. It involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown. Our country has always had the courage to do this when needed. And health care change is needed now.

The minds of everyone involved in this discussion must be open and understanding.

SEND PSYCHOLOGISTS TO WALL STREET

We need all of the worlds best psychologists to get to Wall Street before those leaders of the GREED group completely lose it. One sneeze from the wrong person at the wrong time sends them into a total frenzy, destroying any confidence any normal person would have. They have driven our economic outlook for far too long. There are much better ways to gauge situations than these people who look only at money and nothing else.

Those of us who let them lead us need our heads examined too.

JOY OVERCOMES FEAR

The man stood quietly as tears gently moved down his face. His home had just been saved from foreclosure by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And I was moved as he was..enabled by a positive and understanding media looking on for me. It is so wonderful when the power of communication can enable me to be there with that man and share his happiness.

It's also wonderful that a TV station chose to be positive in it's coverage. This is what we need...an understanding of one another and the willingness to strive together to work our way out of our perilous economic situation.

MEDIA LABELS

The media has already started labeling and categorizing everyone and everything. DON'T LET THEM.

The voting public didn't vote for labels......they voted for ideas, ideals and hope !

Don't destroy an idea because of a label !