> If you think you're not getting paid enough you should quit and start your own company.

I'd rather eat a bullet, thanks. I have dignity and I'd like to keep it.

> The fact that google/apple/amazon make 5-10x per employee is not proof that you're underpaid.

That's exactly what it means.

> The chef at French Laundry makes $$$$$$$, does that mean the apple farmer who supplied the apples for $ is underpaid?

The chef is paid for their labor. Shareholders contribute nothing to society.

The original shareholders created the company. Without them there wouldn't be jobs.

The newer shareholders provided liquidity to the original shareholders. Their benefit to society was helping to incentivize the people who created the company (and all the jobs) by making them rich.

>I have dignity and I'd like to keep it.

it's not about dignity, it's about history. That's why those FAANGs offered crazy salaries before tapering off some 5 years ago.

The last thing they wanted was for the true 10x'ers to become tomorrow's competition, or for others to work for such 10x'ers. Because if such an engineer could make a 10m/yr business vs being hired for 100k, many would take that business opportunity.

>Shareholders contribute nothing to society.

they contribute money, and that's all that matters. quality, long term profitability, and worker dignity be damned.