That's why I say the only time Congress gets a raise is if it's on a national ballot and we vote for it and oh yes it will be most definitely scrutinized to make sure it is free and fair. And I'll tell you right now I don't think a damn single American would vote for a raise for them and it applies
That’s not entirely accurate in the context of the time. The Founding Fathers made a point of compelling that any government service be paid precisely because King George III had appointed very wealthy people to do his bidding with the tacit agreement that they would personally profit from power.
This is a double edged sword, because over time we the people realized that it meant that everyday people would almost never be able to afford to serve in Congress.
They served short terms because they had to get back to their farms. Those were the days when being part of govt truly was serving the ppl. It was patriotism
Per dime doesn’t make sense in the modern world. Term limits, mandatory blind trust and inability to trade while in office and enforceable ethics make sense. Voters who elect reps increasing their own salaries while denying Fed. min wage increases may want to change how they vote.
Returning to this system would guarantee only oligarchs could serve in Congress. That’s why it changed: so the government of all the People would be represented by all the People. Be careful what you wish for.
Ty neighbor!
This is why i only refer to the CONS gress as the 545 elected DC elites...
They truly are more interested in padding their pay,"free speech contributions" (that was previously called bribery until CU 2010) & self aggrandizement.
Congress today gets a salary of $174k. Which is good money, but they do have to keep a residence in two places, one of which is a high cost of living region.
The real problem is how millions of dollars are used to influence elections. The salary is nothing.
Then they should have subsidized housing in DC. Dorms and cafeterias so they can mingle and get to know one another. Oh, and free laundry service too. 😊
That’s kind of the problem though. Most of them have to keep two homes, one in their district and in DC (which is very pricey). It’s really not that much; and you are actually hurting people that aren’t rich much more.
Do you think back then that wasn't the case? Only wealthy landowners could vote; nearly all of the founding fathers were well-off, successful businessmen with land and slaves.
This is actually a terrible idea though. Some states sill do this, and the practical effect is that either only rich people can afford to hold office, or that those who hold office are especially vulnerable to economic pressure (either from their regular employers or from outright bribes).
How in the world would you measure “representing your constituents”? If they “aren’t showing up” that often means they are back in their district with their constituents.
Answer: We tie their pay to their district's income. Whether mean, median, or some formula between multiple factors. The point is, their district does better they do better, or at the very least, the people are the only ones deciding on raises for representatives.
I don't know... that opens s BIG door for regionalism at the expense of national community. I actually like the system we have now, mostly, but I do think we need to have an "annual review" for lawmakers. They're employees, not owners, and need to be treated as such.
Yes…. This is on all social media but still asking folks to push it out more. I’ve been watching the data experts analyze numbers since the election. No doubt in my mind it’s fishy. Go figure… a con man, grifter, liar, and cheater cheating in an election. Research the truth in the data.
At the next protest, I’m bringing the American flag and flying it. I’m taking back our flag. The American Flag that represents freedom, honor, and the pursuit of happiness. Taking it away from people who do not respect what it stands for. Who’s with me? Then let’s roll!
We need to go back to that! Senators and Representatives should only be paid when working and NOT COMMITTING INSIDER TRADING!! Neither them; family members or “friends”!
The founders couldn’t have imagined the Dark Money influence that have changed patriotic legislators into politovangelist bloviators of the gospel of Donald Trump.
If Trump sneaks past the pearly gates of heaven
Then as the great philosopher Bon Scott once said
Hell ain’t a bad place to be
American politics changed radically after the SCOTUS’s Citizen’s United Decision.
The candidates are required to be an American but their benefactor could be a Qatari terrorist with an agenda and a $400 million flying palace or a Russian oligarch with a pocket full of campaign cash and a VCR tape.
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This is why i only refer to the CONS gress as the 545 elected DC elites...
They truly are more interested in padding their pay,"free speech contributions" (that was previously called bribery until CU 2010) & self aggrandizement.
Congress today gets a salary of $174k. Which is good money, but they do have to keep a residence in two places, one of which is a high cost of living region.
The real problem is how millions of dollars are used to influence elections. The salary is nothing.
You think it’s much easier to represent poor people? And everything should be about pork barrel money to their own district?
In the 21st century, gov’t is a little more complex.
I don’t think their salaries are the issue. And they’re not that high considering they need to maintain 2 homes.
If Trump sneaks past the pearly gates of heaven
Then as the great philosopher Bon Scott once said
Hell ain’t a bad place to be
One of the main reasons they made it so only Americans could be president was so a rich foreign prince couldn’t buy their way in
The candidates are required to be an American but their benefactor could be a Qatari terrorist with an agenda and a $400 million flying palace or a Russian oligarch with a pocket full of campaign cash and a VCR tape.