Why do the CEO's feel they deserve these big pay increases at this time?

....we have encouraged over the decades. Most of these executives are spoiled children, who have never heard the word "no". They truly believe that they deserve more, and more, than anyone else. They are the elite. The problem with the elite, is that they are self-appointed. The elite will happily explain why you don't deserve as much, even though you do more work. You are simply not as selfish and self-involved, so you cannot be elite. The trouble is, there will never be enough "more" for the elite. Greed and self-love are usually incurable, past a certain age. The people causing the problems will suffer very little, no matter how bad things get. It is the innocent who will do most of the suffering, an age-old story.

They will take what they think they can get, clear and simple. They are out for themselves and do not look to others for permission or assent. Of course they may make their case to the board members and there may be some haggling, but their arguments are wholly strategic, not born of honest self evaluation. At least that's my take. BTW, I don't begrudge their lucre.

"The use of 'Conspiracy Theorist' or 'Truther' as a derogatory -- as an epithet almost -- is something the propagandists have perfected over the decades, and it's a useful tool for eliminating articulate dissent."

/Mike