One reason for America's demise is this kind of financial compensations. When people are rewarded outrageously, there is little left for people who physically work and contribute back to economy. For example a daily laborer who make a US$1000 a month will most probably will spend all back to economy but a person making 100,000 a month cannot eat or spend 100% back to economy. The result is a decline in the economic activity. This is one reason that Pakistan is in trouble because these corrupt politician are fleecing up the economy and people are getting poor and poorer.