Don’t blame greed for pay

Several recent letter writers have implied that “greed” is the reason corporate executives receive outrageously high salaries. This assertion is a classic example of sincere ignorance or conscientious stupidity, I’m not certain which. The absurdity of their claim is easy to refute.

Virtually everybody’s salary depends on what other people are willing to pay. Corporate executives do not set their own salaries. For example, the greed of Mark Hurd did not cause Hewlett-Packard to offer the vast sums of money they pay him. The $26 million compensation HP paid to Hurd in 2007 was a function of proven performance.

Mark Hurd may be the greediest person in the U.S., but that won’t raise his compensation one cent. And HP does not have to justify their decision to public opinion. Those of us on the outside of private transactions do not have the information or expertise to put a value on what Mark Hurd, or any other corporate executive, should be paid.

So save your moral outrage for something truly outrageous, like a presidential candidate who wants to redistribute Mark Hurd’s lofty income to those who didn’t earn it. But that is a topic for a future letter.

Gordon L. Shadle, Albany

Let him be as successful

If there are no terrorist attacks in the U.S. for seven years under president Barack Obama, then he should be praised by all for defending this country as proficiently as our current president.

There have been no terrorist attacks from 9/11/2001 to the present, and most would agree that national security is paramount.

Assuming a second term, we hope and pray a president Obama can achieve the same level of success.

Larry A. Smith, Shedd

How to help capitalism

I will forgo my usual rant on how to solve many problems by merely cutting out waste, canceling the war industry, etc.

Rather, I will offer a couple of ideas to help alleviate the immediate problems of the capitalist system. One I have been offering for about 10 years now and am pleased to see that Peter DeFazio has taken it up also. A sales tax. Not the ordinary one I have helped defeat eight times here in Oregon, just on every day stock transactions on Wall Street.

DeFazio suggests one quarter of one percent. This is less than the broker fees, and would net the national treasury billions of dollars to offset the deficit spending we always hear about.

Two: Since Social Security tax is already a flat tax with no exemptions, why stop at the cap of around $100,000 on wages and salaries? Why not apply it to all income?

This would bring in enough to resolve all problems for Social Security, plus pay for everyone to be on Medicare and Medicaid, drugs and all. Full health care for everyone. Cut all the insurance company gamblers out of that game.

The displaced workers from the military and war industry and other waste could be put to work rebuilding the rail system, a mass transit system, return to making our own stuff and much more, until finally we could reduce the official work week, saving a lot of energy and the environment.

Live long and prosper.

Ed Hemmingson, Albany

Two honorable campaigns

We’d like to commend the two Ward I councilor candidates, Bill Root and Floyd Collins, on their performances. Unlike other races in our state, these two men conducted honorable campaigns. Also to their credit, both are actively involved in community service activities. Bill participates weekly in serving meals at the soup kitchen and Floyd is responsible for obtaining the new fence at Gibson Hill Park. As citizens of Ward I, we look forward to working with them for the betterment of our community.

Kathy Cook and Mark Azevedo, Albany

Questions for next mayor

As a business owner in Albany, I congratulate Sharon Konopa on her win as mayor. I do, however, have some serious reservations.

Sharon, I would ask that if you are serious about representing the “average” Albany resident, please take the time to find out exactly what they really think.

I know you have spent countless hours going door to door. I spoke to you many times when the councilors used to have a “Day at the Mall” a few years ago. I know you are a real person — but I saw that due to your prior statements against Wal-Mart, you had to recuse yourself from a recent vote. I remember the time you spent trying to get me to see how bad the company actually is — in your opinion. Each is entitled to their opinion, and as an elected representative, you are also charged with exercising better judgment. However, I believe the “average” residents as I know them want Wal-Mart.

I remember the hours you put into the “Great Neighborhoods” project — a complete redesign of our building practices and land use planning. Very good work and ideas.

But when a “call center” was looking at entering the Heritage Center, you were against losing an empty “Big Box” to an employer and not retail. Wasn’t an overriding goal in “Great Neighborhoods” to have people able to work, live and shop in close proximity?

Please take an extra moment and consider the consequences before an individual project is rejected. Businesses and employers need to be attracted, not dictated to.

As our new mayor, please be sensitive to the desires of your citizens. That may mean some growth — and sometimes even a store you don’t personally like. Just as our new president-elect has many challenges, so does a local government. Good luck, Godspeed and may God grant you the wisdom to balance our many divergent goals and needs.

Greg Richards, Albany

Why I voted for McCain

Edmund Morris’ biography of Reagan had one great insight into Reagan, and it was perfectly observed.

Reagan spent his entire life standing up to the bully. From boyhood on, he interposed himself between the bully and the innocent. He stood up to the bullies in his schools. He stood up to the Communists in Hollywood, and to the coercive unions. He stood up to the student radicals and their abettors. He stood up to the Soviets.

He simply stood up.

In the world today are a lot of bullies to stand up to: al-Qaida, the mullahs, the North Koreans, the Chinese Communists, the Castro brothers, Hugo Chávez, domestic social engineers. John McCain will almost certainly do it. Barack Obama will almost certainly not.

That’s one reason — probably the biggest reason — I voted McCain.

Paul Harmon, Albany