The problem of excessive CEO pay is not only outrageous, but it is taking money that should be used to build our companies for the benefit of the shareholders—the real owners of the companies. Is anyone really worth more than a million dollars a year plus golden parachutes, lifetime medical and other perks? After all, a company could hire FIVE freshly graduated MBA’s from our top business schools at $200,000 a year each for a total of $1,000,000 to run any company—probably much better than most companies are being run today.

The simple solution is for the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) to require that any officer or director of any public company whose annual estimated total pay is more than $1,000,000 must be listed on any Proxy Forms that are sent to the shareholders for a yes or no vote. Mary Shapiro, the new head of the SEC, already has the power to do this. She should immediately put out an order to all the public companies requiring that this information and voting choice be included on all future Proxy Forms sent to shareholders.

Please sign our petition to Mary Shapiro, SEC Chief.