I’m sure that every French dilettante who ascended the steps to the gallows during those cleansing day of the French Revolution were wondering the same thing as many titans of business are today.

“Why do they hate use so much? I mean really we’re not that bad.”

Yet, as U.S. public perception of big business rapidly turns from hero to villain, from placid Canada, nothing.

Oh, maybe I’m being a tad harsh. There is the slight grumbling of resentment and outrage. That sort of coffee talk indignation that ends at the finish of a mocha latte. But no marching in the streets. No mass calls for righting an egregious wrong.
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President Barack Obama & Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Speaking About Executive Compensation

Although Obama’s term as president is only in its infancy, he’s already impressed me in many ways. First was his ability to quickly put together an extensive stimulus plan (which took far too long for Canada to do) and then his plan to close Guantanamo Bay within a year. Now, it’s his idea to impose a salary cap for many U.S. business executives.

Obama’s plan is to place a $500,000 salary cap on executives at troubled U.S. financial institutions that accept federal bailout funds. And it’s a brilliant idea.

Here’s an excerpt from Obama’s announcement:
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