Boomer,
The post was not too long, and it said just enough to make me think about those individuals you described and really feel for them. There is something basically wrong when CEOs who mismanage a company walk away with huge golden parachutes. Many of us have seen it first hand, and the company cuts never seem to affect those who made the very decisions that caused the problems to begin with.
Individuals shareholders have very little say, as the large mutual funds and pension funds (in addition to wealthy foreign investors) make the calls that are perpetuating these problems, and it all boils down to the next quarterly profit report.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with profits, but there is no longer any long-term corporate (or government) strategy. Everything is focused on the next election or the next earnings report.
Yet how many of us even read, no less vote, on proxy statements when we receive them?
Financial education, disclosure and more transparency in corporate governance are needed.
I know, this was probably too long as well, but maybe we've all become too accustomed to "sound bites" and need to delve more deeply into the issues.
Thanks, Boomer, for your thoughts.