I believe the large amounts of excess belong to large corporations with absentee ownership who go out and hire "professionals" that are only in it for themselves. Some of these corporate execs with the Enron mentality ought to have their heads handed to them. AIG's execs are making fools of themselves right now.
I am now one of the recipients of my father's efforts and I work in the business that he struggled for - and I have taken a larger pay cut - dollar wise, and PERCENTAGE wise than ANY employee that we have been able to keep - and yes, we have laid some off in order to protect the future of the company and the jobs of those that remain (we even gave them a RAISE to try and help cover higher fuel costs). It's not just a discussion in theory for me, but real-world experience.
Most small business owners realize they can't make it without good employees, and try to find balance in pay, benefits along with making a profit for themselves and paying the leeches (taxes, insurance, unions, etc.) Tax us so hard we can't get ahead, and our incentive to create and grow goes away.
The tax plan that Obama is pushing, especially the capital gains and the inheritance tax is going to kill small business. Every parent wants to pass along the fruits of their lifelong efforts to their children - and should have the god-given right to do so - after all, they EARNED it. Why should the government get it? What is their incentive to create wealth if they can't pass it along? What happens when it's easier to sit on your ass and the government GIVE you money than it is to go and EARN it?
Ok, time to stop and count to 10 - and I realllly should get back to work!