"What irks some analysts is that such payouts are made even in cases where the most an executive deserves is an hour to clean out his desk and an escort to the door."

"This is a symptom of a bigger problem. In corporate America you WIN IF YOU WIN, AND YOU WIN IF YOU LOSE,' said Roy Weitz, publisher of FundAlarm.com, a website that chronicles the fund industry's shortcomings."

"Janus spokeswoman Shelley Peterson defended Whiston, saying he had a central role in building Janus from a small unknown shop with $7.1 billion in assets to an internationally recognized brand with $150 billion. It is important to keep in mind that Mark has spent years here and has helped grow the company,' she said. 'He also has close ties to many of the firm's institutional clients,' she said, 'and will provide real help as a consultant."

"Nearly three out of four companies offer what are known as 'golden parachutes,' or payouts to departing executives worth several times annual pay and bonuses, according to the Investor Responsibility Research Center, or IRRC, in Washington D.C."

"Because executives have their careers and reputations at risk, they need some protection,' said John Mark, managing director of Stanton Chase International, a corporate recruitment firm with offices in Denver."

"But Bowie said, 'shareholders are becoming much more vocal about which severance packages companies offer. Shareholders are challenging them on all fronts,' she said. 'Measures requiring shareholder approval of severance packages are winning strong support, although companies aren't bound to follow them."

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I think corporations made a wrong turn years ago when they gave into the demands of high level executive people for "golden parachutes" and all the other perks they have been getting. Along with that assurance many of those executives were awarded stock options as the company gained more of a market share and often a pay raise. What the heck, if any of us poor Joes are laid off we are lucky if we get two weeks wages as severance. If we are fired we get zilch.

Shelley Peterson saying, "It is important to keep in mind that Mark has spent 14 years here and has helped grow the company," she said. "He also has close ties to many of the firm's institutional clients, and will provide real help as a consultant."

Makes me want to hurl, twisted propaganda like that. If he spent 14 years there helping grow the company I am sure in my own mind that he was either raised in salary as the company grew or given rising compensation of one kind or another during the period of growth. Consultant ? Last I heard consultants are paid people, so is he is or is he ain't Janus' baby ? Close ties with institutional people ? Is he going to be paid under the table or whatever to keep those clients tied to Janus ?

John Mark, managing director of Stanton Chase International is among the group who seem to perpetuate the philosophy of a "golden parachute" of course, it is his livelihood. All these spokespeople seem to be expert spin doctors who are good at fooling some of the people, some of the time. Roy Weitz hit the nail on the head, I think, when he said about CEOs, "In corporate America you win if you win, and you win if you lose." Not much incentive to make a go of the company is it ?

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Heather with minor help from me, put a dinner together and we took it to our son today. Healthy soup - almost a stew, fresh vegetables, fruit and other things she knows he likes and can have, along with fruits, juices and canned food to help him survive the week. This is the first time we have seen him since we returned. How can I say how that affected me without a crying towel ? We spent several hours with him engaged in talk back and forth. He walks like many old men do, is much thinner, hurts, dozes now and then in his LazyBoy. He is upbeat though and his brother and sister who both live on that side of town see him frequently. His sister does what work she can while there. All of which gives him moral support. He is the same man he always has been and lavishes his love on his grandchildren when they are with him. He keeps one or another of them for a day fairly frequently, he is as good a grandfather as he is a Father. We do so hope that he can keep continuing those things that are good for him.

I think as far as corporate things, it will require corporations to back up a long way and get a good running start to put things on an even, fair keel once again. Where it won't be as it has been, Bucks, But No Bang . . . . . . . . . . . .

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