Newt’s radical proposals for federal judges. Paycheck reveal – comparing CEO salary to the average worker. Don't push your (pot)luck. 2011 theater round-up.
Newt’s radical proposals for federal judges
If Newt Gingrich becomes president, he says he would ignore Supreme Court decisions that conflicted with his powers as commander in chief. On a recent edition of "Face the Nation" the republican former Speaker of the House and candidate for the republican presidential nomination, said that he would subpoena a judge who jurist disagreed with him and send the police or a U.S. Marshall to bring a recalcitrant judge in.
Gingrich said his views on federal judges stem from two observations: “the steady encroachment of secularism through the courts to redefine America as a non-religious country and the encroachment of the courts on the president's commander-in-chief powers, which is enormously dangerous."
These views may please conservatives who rail against "activist" judges over gay marriage rights or school prayer but they could also backfire against Gingrich since voters already are angry over constant bickering between the White House and Congress.
This kind of talk may just re-enforce the notion that Washington is divisive and nothing can get done. Gingrich critics see these proposals as an outrageous infringement on the separation of powers in government.
WEIGH IN:
Do you think federal judges have too much power and need to be reigned in? Is Gingrich pandering to right? Are these ideas a serious and dangerous attempt to make the president all powerful?
Guests:
John Eastman, Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, Former Dean and Professor, Chapman University School of Law
Eugene Volokh, Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law
Don't push your (pot)luck
We’ve all seen it: an office’s holiday potluck is being set up and, much to the horror of those who put time and effort into making a homemade casserole, someone waltzes in with a premade lasagna from Ralph’s and nonchalantly drops it on the table. Empirical evidence suggests that events like church fundraisers, school bake sales and end-of-the-year extracurricular ceremonies are being overrun by these store brought items, and that recipes made with tender, love and care are shrinking.
In a time when the economy is rough and people are working more jobs for longer hours, perhaps it can be understood that so many are turning to grocery stores and the like to relieve some of the burden. But purists disagree, as they believe something like a bake sale requires you to put a part of yourself into the dish. After all, these types of events are exactly what brought disparate members of communities closer together during the middle of the twentieth century, thus explaining their popularity today.
WEIGH IN:
On which side of the buffet line do you fall? Do you prefer to make a dish yourself? Could you care less about the food or how you may look to others who slaved away in a kitchen? What about the issue of allergies, are store products acceptable given that possibility? What are the worst offenses you’ve seen at a fundraiser or potluck? If you are the offender, what do you have to say for yourself? What is the proper etiquette in this situation?
Paycheck reveal – comparing CEO salary to the average worker
This month is the deadline for a new rule to be crafted that would force companies to disclose what the big boss earns compared to worker bees. The regulation is part of the Dodd-Frank bill of yesteryear and is being finalized by the Securities and Exchange Commission right now.
One major hitch could be that some lawmakers want to repeal this particular rule. They say gathering all the data would be too burdensome for companies. Executive pay disclosure alone is not new. Public companies are required to make that information public already. What's new is the median salary of the typical worker. It's estimated many CEOs make 110 times more than their worker Janes and Joes, maybe even 325 times more.
WEIGH IN:
Do you want to know the ratio at your company? How would it affect morale? Against the grain on this issue, Whole Foods grocery store stands out for capping executive compensation ratio at 19 to 1. Should that be a trend across Corporate America? What could be the unintended consequences of this regulation?
Guests:
Heidi Moore, Wall Street correspondent and New York bureau chief, Marketplace, American Public Media
Kristine Meyer, Senior Associate, ClearBridge Compensation Group, a New York based company that works with boards of directors and senior management to help them structure executive compensation
The Airtalk Play-by-Play
Larry and local theater critics Steven Leigh Morris and Don Shirley look back at the year’s on-stage offerings and talk about what was hot, what was not and what performances they recommend you see during the holidays. They'll be discussing 2011's hits such as "God of Carnage," as well as the plays that are currently being staged in the Southern California area.
WEIGH IN:
Did you see a show you thought was great? What about one that was terrible? What is playing now that looks interesting to you?
Guests:
Don Shirley, LA Stage Watch columnist and the copy editor of LAStageTimes.com, which is the online journal of the LA STAGE Alliance.
Steven Leigh Morris, critic at large for the LA Weekly