Maybe it would help to understand that a salary is a mutual agreement between the person who holds the job and the person who's willing to do it. If someone (Athlete, CEO, garbage man) gets a high salary it's because he believed to bring something worth that price (or more) to the company paying. Maybe it's name recognition, maybe ability, maybe both, or maybe he just has a bunch of friends that give LOTS more money then he is receiving. At any rate, in this case I believe you have to look at the Board who hired him. They are the ones who AGREED to pay the salary.....He merely collects it. By the way, here's a Mission Statement from the Smithsonian website. Secretary Small's Vision "The Smithsonian is committed to enlarging our shared understanding of the mosaic that is our national identity by providing authoritative experiences that connect us to our history and our heritage as Americans and to promoting innovation, research and discovery in science. These commitments have been central to the Smithsonian since its founding more than 155 years ago." Read it carefully, and maybe you'll understand why it doesn't operate like your local public library, as some believe it should. Nowhere in the mission does it does it say "service all requests, or make everything conveniently available". Nor does it say anything about preserving, repurposing, or even archiving. To me, the Smithsonian is an establishment where the government creates an edible version of "our" National American history, with the credibility of a lot of old, important stuff behind the magic curtain and a staff of assumably (word??) knowledgeable "fact checkers" to make sure details are correct. The idea I get is that you need a very special reason, and lots of proper credentials to look behind the curtain. And from the mission, I assume this is what it ALWAYS has been. I think if the Smithsonian has set the salary, and they pay it; then it's their business. No one in this forum knows the reason behind the salary, or really how compitent the man is at his appointed job. If the Smithsonian finds him incapable or overpaid, the Board has clear means of correcting it. My 2 cents, Don Andes Director of Archives EMI Music > Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ****http://tinyurl.com/27man8 > > This guy is allegedly a "public servant." He should be fired and the > office put under very strict oversight, with the executive budget cut > to the bone. Someone wanting to get rich and live like a CEO doesn't > belong in charge of the Smithsonian, or the LOC or any other > government institution. Such jobs are not for those in it for the rich > and > famous living large life. > > No wonder so much audio material in the hands of the Smithsonian will > never be conveniently available to the public (public = owners and > funders > of said museum). Disgraceful! > > -- Tom Fine > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/702 - Release Date: > 2/25/2007 > 3:16 PM > > - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from EMI This e-mail including any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received it in error please advise the sender immediately by return email and then delete it from your system. The unauthorised use, distribution, copying or alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. If you need assistance please contact us on +44 20 7795 7000. This email is from a unit or subsidiary of EMI Group plc. Registered Office: 27 Wrights Lane, London W8 5SW Registered in England No 229231. - --------------------------------------------------------------------