Investors Discouraged by Execs’ Big Perks

After reading “For Many Southland CEOs, the Pay Just Gets Better” (June 15), why would we small longtime investors want to continue investing in stocks?

Some of my stocks and mutual funds are still off about 50%, while the companies’ CEOs are given huge raises and lavish perks regardless of how well the stock is doing in the market.

Does this encourage the young and enterprising to invest in the market? Do these lopsided compensations seem fair or ethical when most shareholders have little or nothing to say about these sums?

There are huge rewards for layoffs in companies, as well as for mergers and loans to other interests. What about better performance and employee incentives?

Marlene Aragon

Aliso Viejo