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That is not excessive pay for an executive position
They do not have executive positions They work for the poor people who have to take undignified jobs to support themselves, they do not run a goddam thing.
I'm afraid they do
Being a congressman or Senator, as much as we despise them, is a difficult position with a large executive and political skill set
Really? I'm the only one as of now that says nay? The ONLY one?
My gripe is that we want our lawmakers to be the best and brightest... Most of the people in such positions are talented lawyers and communicators who could make a lot more in private practice as it is. Cutting their pay would be an insult ($174k for Senators, hardly Rockafeller money); and while most of them are already wealthy before they assume office, it's hardly due to the salary they make therein...
My take anyway. :shrug:
That $174K we pay our Congressmen also sets the limit on what we pay ambassadors, cabinet level officers, secretarys of defense and state and all key advisors
You ultimately get what you pay for
The issue has nothing to do with congressional pay, but the failure of voters to hold elected representatives accountable.
Whatever the perceived failures of Congress, the blame lies with the voters.
But, of course, the right won't get it because they've fallen into the victim mentality they so often rail against when it comes to the poor. They're victims of Obama, of the liberal MSM, of progressive ideas, of Democrats, of whatever...on and on and on, ad nauseum.
I'd be curious what multi-millionaire Ron Paul thinks of it!On Thursday, Mega-Millionaire House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was against cutting Congressional pay because it would undermine the dignity of her job. But what do you all think?
If we are to have a truly representative government, everyone should be allowed to serve,
No, I said nay too.
Why? Because that's really not a lot of money for what they do. Most people have no idea what being a member of Congress entails or how expensive it really is.
For instance...did you know that members of Congress are required BY THE CONSTITUTION to maintain an actual residence in their state or district? AND, they must have a place to live in Washington, DC, which is among the highest cost of living cities in America. The average rent is $1900 per month. Some of them bunk down in cooperative housing like the House on C Street, or share apartments because of the expense. Having two residences is not cheap.
Their work day isn't confined to the few hours the two Houses are session. Not by a long shot. They typically work 12-16 hour days, meeting with constituents (anybody who can pass through a metal detector can walk right into their office), attending briefings and committee meetings, doing research or meeting with staff members, crafting legislation, going to the ends of the earth to "see for themselves" and spending time raising funds for the next election or visiting with the folks back home. It's a grueling, tiring, exhausting schedule which most who think they are overpaid could not survive.
Moreover, they have the exact same benefit package as any other federal employee and must allocate money out of their salary for healthcare and retirement benefits, in addition to the same payroll taxes the rest of us have to deal with. That cuts down on their take home pay the same as it does for you, but their expenses most likely exceed yours.
Why do you think so many members of Congress are millionaires? It's because average Joe's, like us, can't afford to be a member.
Instead of a pay cut, I think they need a very substantial raise, enough so that normal folks can afford to run and still feed their families.
If we are to have a truly representative government, everyone should be allowed to serve,
No they shouldn't. What a terrible idea. Everyone who meets the age and residency requirements is eligible to serve, but not everyone (not most people, in fact) should be "allowed" to serve as if we are just taking turns at random.
Really? I'm the only one as of now that says nay? The ONLY one?
My gripe is that we want our lawmakers to be the best and brightest... Most of the people in such positions are talented lawyers and communicators who could make a lot more in private practice as it is. Cutting their pay would be an insult ($174k for Senators, hardly Rockafeller money); and while most of them are already wealthy before they assume office, it's hardly due to the salary they make therein...
My take anyway. :shrug:
We? Is there a mouse in your pocket? Can you point anywhere I ever said our lawmakers should be the best and the brightest? Why would I want Bill Gates working in Congress when he is clearly much better suited to developing computer software?
I think their pay should be cut in half and all perks eliminated. Also every bill they pass into law should apply to them just as it does for everybody else.
I agree except for the cut in pay. The Washington area is very expensive to live in.
Of course, their pay is the least of their concerns. Getting re-elected a few times so that they can later use the revolving door into a lucrative lobbying gig is their real goal.
Remove lobbying by former members of Congress or their family members would be the most effective.
The best way to get rich is to serve in Congress. They don't need any more of our money.
Don't you ever wonder how a guy who only makes 170K a year can retire a multi millionaire after a few years serving in Congress?
Yep, and they get a full pension even if they only serve 2 years. How many people would turn down that deal?
snopes.com: Congressional Pensions
The lefties want CEO's salaries cut because they don't like the way they are running their companies.
Well we want the same.Cut politicians salaries.At least until this administration can get the economy
going in the right direction...( Good luck with that.)
I'm willing to pay CEOs what Congressmen make
Will that help?
Since the job of a congressman is to make laws, I think I would prefer lawyers did it rather than plumbers.Really? I'm the only one as of now that says nay? The ONLY one?
My gripe is that we want our lawmakers to be the best and brightest... Most of the people in such positions are talented lawyers and communicators who could make a lot more in private practice as it is. Cutting their pay would be an insult ($174k for Senators, hardly Rockafeller money); and while most of them are already wealthy before they assume office, it's hardly due to the salary they make therein...
My take anyway. :shrug:
I don't necessarily want the best and brightest, not at all. I want them to be the most representativist, i.e. the most reflective of my wishes. That's what they're (supposed to be) there for. That doesn't take talent; it just takes integrity.
It's estimated that 37% of Congresscritters are lawyers. Lawyers make up 0.36% of the population. That means attorneys are overrepresented in Congress by a factor of a hundred. At least.
There are way too many damn lawyers in Congress. I understand the advantage of having one there; I don't understand the advantage of having a hundred times the population. That ain't representation.
If we are to have a truly representative government, everyone should be allowed to serve,
No they shouldn't. What a terrible idea. Everyone who meets the age and residency requirements is eligible to serve, but not everyone (not most people, in fact) should be "allowed" to serve as if we are just taking turns at random.
Way to cherry pick what I'd said. I stated everyone should be allowed to serve, which I believe they should.
You obviously thought that meant appointing them by lottery. Nope, sorry, they still have to get elected by the popular vote.
Really? I'm the only one as of now that says nay? The ONLY one?
My gripe is that we want our lawmakers to be the best and brightest... Most of the people in such positions are talented lawyers and communicators who could make a lot more in private practice as it is. Cutting their pay would be an insult ($174k for Senators, hardly Rockafeller money); and while most of them are already wealthy before they assume office, it's hardly due to the salary they make therein...
My take anyway. :shrug:
We? Is there a mouse in your pocket? Can you point anywhere I ever said our lawmakers should be the best and the brightest? Why would I want Bill Gates working in Congress when he is clearly much better suited to developing computer software?
Bad analogy. Bill Gates "writes computer software" in the same way that Jimmy Page "writes songs".
On Thursday, Mega-Millionaire House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was against cutting Congressional pay because it would undermine the dignity of her job. But what do you all think?
You didn't leave a choice to vote "Aye". I really wanted Aye.
Congress shouldn't be a career goal. They should view the job the same as military service, for the same reason. They should be sequestered in dorms and not paid a salary at all. Free meals, and automatic restraining orders on all lobbyists. Let 'em take the role of serving their constituents. Only those who are truly dedicated to that service would run again.
On Thursday, Mega-Millionaire House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was against cutting Congressional pay because it would undermine the dignity of her job. But what do you all think?
I think we should draw a huge "X" on the Mainland map between the northeasternmost edge of Maine to the San Diego southernmost beach And the northwesternmost tip of the Olympic peninsula of Washington to the southeasternmost tip of Florida. Where the "X" meets, all land for 25 miles radius from the point should be purchased at a premium and Washington, D.C. moved there to be the center of the nation and capitol, and leave the DC area as a national heritage museum center, if anyone dares to go there with the criminal element as it is.
I think from the new Capitol, also named "Washington Center," we should draw up new terms of contract to Senators and Representatives to serve for free. That would keep out those hoping to gain everything from their service to country to include all the amenities, of which there would be few in the middle of the USA. Then, knowing how the rest of the country lives, let them draw from their own experience the sacrifice that public service is, and that if they cannot act in an honorable manner, they are out on their ears.
I'm sick of fighting, spin rooms, lies manufactured for election time, and congresscritters lining up armored vehicles at the US Treasury to take home goodies to their states. I'm sick of unsportsmanlike conduct and congressmen and women acting like court jesters instead of the dignified people they should be.
