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Is there anyway we could get our elected officials to give up their pensions they earned (I use that term lightly)? Is there anyway we could cut the pay for our elected officials to lets say the median household income? What other things would you all like to see in the near future?
I welcome all remarks, I will not delete any of them, if you cannot abide by the CoH, thats on you. Rememeber, Jesus loves all of us, except for you Tom, he despises you.
Public Service sounds like a great paying job, I wish I was part of the monarchy.
#1 - Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:30 AM EDTDear Friend Fernando: If you under pay those in office, it will only make the problem of the Congress being a millionaires club worse. Then where do the rest of us go to look for representation:? To lobbyists? I don't think so.
Campaign financial reform that levels the playing field so special interests cannot get whoever is elected in their back pocket, plus follow up to make sure there is no payoff once someone is out of office for outgoing the way of the vested interest while in office is needed too.
Enoch.
#2 - Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:19 PM EDTAgreed about removing lobbyists. Lobbying is in the constitution. It serves no useful and often a harmful purpose to the bulk of Americans these days.
Most welcome, my good friend.
Salary of retired US Presidents .............$180,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of House / Senate Members........$174,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House .............$223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders.....$193,400 FOR LIFE
I worked for 20 years in the military, retired as an E-6, and I only get $16K per year, for life. They definitly don't have to do close to 20 years in their chosen profession, and they definitly don't spend near as much time away from their families, nor do they put their lives on the line.
As far as lobbyist?
I'm all for campaign reform to get money out of DC, but I think it needs to go further than that. Technically, our congressmen and congresswomen are supposed to represent the people. I personally believed the lobbyist should be out there spending the money on we the people, and then we'll make the case to our representatives in Washington. Lobbyist shouldn't have the direct access to our representatives. But that's just me.
That's kind of my point.
He/she has a lobbyist, sitting there chatting with him face to face, but if I write a letter, he/she won't read it (that's what he/she has staff members for) and if I call, he/she won't talk to me (that's what he/she has staff for). I'm pretty certain that if I just happened to show up at his/her office, I wouldn't be able to chat with them either.
The lobbyists has direct contact and input to his/her ear, but me, the person he/she is supposed to represent, doesn't even have a voice.
fernando,
I was just speaking to a state rep last week. He was griping about the "pensions" paid by corporations to retired workers .... and it was an "unfair" company expense that "cost" consumers.
I told him that I thought that pensions paid to reps was an "unfair" government expense paid by taxpayers. That ended the discussion on "pensions".
#3 - Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:30 PM EDTfernando... I agree that the pay and pension for the Government Officials should be reduced, as you imply. My instincts are such that big bucks don't mean a 'better' candidate necessarily. The pay/pension should be reasonable to the 'people', and not determined by the Officials themselves. Those salaries and pensions are ludicrous, as are their other benefits.
Btw, did you miscategorize this into "not news?" ...Shouldn't it be politics?
I'm hesitant in ever correcting anyone, as I make mistakes, too. Last thing I want is to sound like a know-it-all. :)
#4 - Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:49 PM EDTIt seems so, doesn't it.
I've noticed when it's categorized in its category, we tend to get more knowledgeable people commenting; otherwise it seems pretty random. OTOH, if you get any comments at all, you're doing pretty good. :)
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