I think it's unfair to say (sm)

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You seem to be an intelligent person so would you please explain to me why my opinion is unfair? She never removed her Hollywood, or beauty queen might be a better description, smile. I do not think this is the time or place for the "oh gee, oh gosh, doggone it" folksiness. Give me at least one good point that she made about specifically what she and McCain would do if elected. Oh yeah, I know, she's a soccer mom and she has a handicapped child. Well, Bidin had a more compelling story on that, at least for me! Sheesh? You have your opinion, I have mine. Doesn't matter if we happen to agree or not. I'm not going to "sheesh" you. I DO NOT want to see Palin in the position of Vice-President nor do I want to see McCain in the White House. If picking her as his running mate, after meeting her only briefly, is an example (and it is) of his judgment capabilities then again, in my opinioin, we can expect more bad judgment on crucial issues from him.

I have serious issues with Obama. Again, with his radical, racist church affilitation and there is no doubt in my mind about that. I DO NOT believe he is muslim or has leanings toward muslimism. Then there is the issue of his wife, who is for the first time proud of her country. There is no doubt in my mind that she said what she meant and meant what she said. That ought to tell us something. I am not concerned whether he wears a flag lapel pin or not. That's nothing more than show and tell anyway, a terrorist could wear a lapel pin.

What does concern me is that it is my belief that this Wall Street failure was orchestrated, probably by the Democrats, to give them an advantage. Furthermore, I fully expect the Republicans to retaliate. What will it be? Another terrorist attack or maybe just a video released at an opportune time to remind us that bin Laden may rear his ugly head at any moments and McCain is just the person who could deal with him?

After the debate I feel comfortable with Joe Biden. Perhaps I am wrong. Time will tell. Either Obama will win and, like John Kerry, we'll never know what kind of president John McCain would have been or McCain will win and there'll be no doubt. The last 2 elections I voted AGAINST George W. Bush. Seems I was right but then again, we don't know what kind of pres. John Kerry would have been. I don't see how he could possibly have been worse than G. W. Bush.

Folks, we need to get over the Republican/Democrat thing and realize our country is in SERIOUS trouble. Personally I don't think it will make much difference which of them is elected. We need to write letters, make phone calls or do whatever is necessary to tell these politicians they WILL do their job and pay attention to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. I talked yesterday with a lady in my representative's office locally. I told her that I was outraged about the Wall Street bail-out. She said they had had very few calls that were in favor of it but the representative (Republican) voted for it because he was worried about people on fixed incomes. HA! I told her I am such a person. We risk losing our secure retirement but a bail out is not going to help us...the little people on fixed incomes. It will make the rich richer and destroy our children and grandchildren's future. Next will be another conglomerate that absolutely requires bail-out. Maybe it will be Wal-Mart, the retail giant that we just couldn't live without?

Sorry for the rant but IMHO we have gotten in this mess because the majority of voters can't see past the Democrat/Republican affilitation!!!!

Commentary: Larger-Than-Life Corporate Salaries are Unfair to Average American Workers

Despite slower-than-anticipated growth and lower-than-expected profits, many corporations have generously rewarded their leaders, while simultaneously reducing lower-level staff salaries and benefits in an attempt to control costs. This disturbing practice only serves to further widen the gap between America�s wealthy few and its working class and clearly demonstrates just how little this country values its workforce.

At a time when most American workers are struggling to make basic ends meet and worrying how they�ll manage to save enough for retirement, many of this country�s corporate chief executives are stuffing their pockets with larger-than-life compensation packages that include high base salaries, stock options and ample pension plans. In 2004, the average chief executive�s salary at a large company was more than 170 times that of the average worker�s pay. Last year, executive salaries grew 25 percent, while that of the average American worker grew only 3.1 percent.

Even when a company struggles, their CEOs are still rewarded. For example, the current CEO of a global manufacturing firm received over $11 million in compensation last year, despite the company�s $3.4 billion revenue loss, an 11-percent drop in stock value and a staff reduction of 17,000 workers. There are similar stories at corporations across the country. While worker pensions are frozen and many are asked to do without raises, CEOs manage to earn their multi-million dollar bonuses.

It�s no surprise that CEOs are cleaning up. Consider this: Corporations often use compensation committees to set their executive salaries. Many of these committees use outside consultants to help guide the process. These consultants are often already contracted to do other work for the company. The conflict of interest here is obvious: The consultant won�t upset the CEO -- and risk losing other contracts -- by setting a more realistic, performance based pay model.

Many corporate CEOs are, in short, getting over, and it is a slap in the face of every American worker. While it is understood that executive salaries would greatly exceed that of the average worker�s, there is no logical argument to explain why the growth rate between the two is so dramatically different. To protect its workforce, corporate America must ensure worker�s salaries grow at rates that keep pace with the cost of living, while slowing the rate of growth of CEO salaries. Corporate boards must stop rewarding CEOs with multi-million dollar bonuses. It is unacceptable for a company to lay off thousands of workers and then turn around and pay an executive for a job well done.

As a country, we often ask our government to think about the needs of the average American, and rightly so. However, if America is to truly prosper, the corporations that feed our local economy must also consider and respect the well-being of average worker.

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Judge Greg Mathis is national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.