Corporate Corruption Flies Under the Radar

“Fumbling a Last Chance,” your April 23 editorial on American Airlines’ top executives giving themselves bonuses and bankruptcy-proof pensions while asking the rank and file to accept lower wages, exposes yet another instance of corporate executives lining their pockets at the expense of the rest of us. They get large bonuses whether business is good or bad or facing bankruptcy. They also get cheap stock options, cheap loans from the company, season tickets for the best seats, limousines, paid vacations and expense accounts to cover items the rest of us pay for ourselves. Meanwhile, President Bush wants to reduce their taxes. All this while we can’t fund our schools or health care and seniors can’t afford the medications they need. Corporate executives are ripping us off and getting away with it. No one is pushing back.

Ray Menzies

Irvine