Why in God's name do politicians get paid so much?

[Al B. Sure!]

Rich? How is $133,000 (US Congress) make them rich bastards?

Are you insane?! Imran, like practically all libertarians, you are completely removed from the real world. You think the world is some perfect thing where everyone has oppurtunities and that those who are not so successful in life are at fault while the rich and wealthy should be our masters.

133,000 to the common man is an unbelievable amount of money. 133,000 is not much... ha! tell that to people I know...


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[Imran Siddiqui]

133,000 to the common man is an unbelievable amount of money. 133,000 is not much... ha! tell that to people I know...

Yes it isn't... especially with how much education they have.

Most of them graduate from law school. $133,000 ain't that much for a law school grad at all.

You need to learn the basic precepts of supply and demand, of course that is economics, and you wouldn't want to be educated in that .

[monolith94]

Albert Speer, it sounds as if you want politicians to live in the ghetto... You can't force people to live like that if they have the money. And how would want to be in a job like that that is so demanding of work and is so important if the money was so paltry?

We'd get crooks and/or morons. Worse than we have now...

[Al B. Sure!]

Imran:

So that validates them living better than the people they are supposed to represent? Wealthy lawyers only represent wealthy lawyers. Very few can comprehend how the average American lives.

You need to learn the basic precepts of supply and demand, of course that is economics, and you wouldn't want to be educated in that

What does that mean?


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[Al B. Sure!]

Mono:

Albert Speer, it sounds as if you want politicians to live in the ghetto... You can't force people to live like that if they have the money. And how would want to be in a job like that that is so demanding of work and is so important if the money was so paltry?

I'm saying they should live like most Americans: lower middle class. They can not possibly represent us if they live as good as they do. They just couldnt relate to our problems.


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[Imran Siddiqui]

What does that mean?

Basically, if you pay people $30,000 a year, who'd want the Congress job except power mongers and people who'd take bribes and kickbacks?

The job is a *****, and you need some money to get good people to go out for it.

[Spiffor]

The very concept of supply and demand is completely opposite to the American ideal of rewarding hard work.
Let's say you work 14 hours a day in a Bangladesh Factory, where many others are struggling to take your job : because of the law of supply and demand, you'll barely earn what you need to survive a bit longer. Let's say you work 6 hours a day as a US technician : as not many people are able to take your job, you get paid enough to live in comfort, and to insure it to the family (not saying that all technicians are lazy, I'm saying that a relatively lazy technician can work much, much better than a hardworking worker).

[Imran Siddiqui]

The very concept of supply and demand is completely opposite to the American ideal of rewarding hard work.

The American ideal is based on capitalism. Anyone can succeed if they work hard... and that is true, even if they are payed ****, if they work hard, they'll make a good living.

[nationalist]

Re: Why in God's name do politicians get paid so much?

Originally posted by Albert Speer
Well? I understand why we came up with the idea of paying office-holders because otherwise we'd only have wealthy people who didn't work in office, but some of these senators, etc. get paid way to much. If there are so many people in poverty in this country, why in God's name are we paying our leaders so much? I say they should reflect and live like the average American if they are to be effective leaders of a democratic nation, not wealthy elitists who are removed from the common man. Give them whatever's the average income of Americans. No more than 30,000 a year...
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That doesn't make any sense at all. Contary to popular belief, politicians do have a job. They have the important job of running this country. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a group of capable, college educated professionals running the government than a bunch of people who barely have a high school diploma. Remeber, many politicians could more than likely make more money in the private sector. They are giving up much of their time and sacrificing money to serve their people. Granted, there are corrupt politicians, but I believe that the majority takes their job seriously. Maybe I'm just an idealist . Besides, if you want to distribute some wealth, we should distribute the money of Pro Athletes and Entertainers. Does Alex Rodriguez really need to make $250 Million dollars for playing baseball? I mean come on, what is he really doing to deserve that kind of money? Politicians are far more important than athletes and movie stars, as are teachers, policemen, doctors, nurses, firemaen, etc.

[Al B. Sure!]

nationalist:

your logic is wrong... baseball players do NOT represent the American people... politicians do...

[nationalist]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
nationalist:

your logic is wrong... baseball players do NOT represent the American people... politicians do...

Which is a more important job: to represent the people and run the government, or to hit homeruns and catch line drives? Therefore, which job deserves more pay?

[Al B. Sure!]

Which is a more important job: to represent the people and run the government, or to hit homeruns and catch line drives? Therefore, which job deserves more pay?

Morally, an officeholder is more important but that's not an issue... the issue is that the politican represents americans... if people got a problem with baseball players getting paid so much then people should stop buying tickets (think of tickets to see a certain team as almost votes to chose the richest teams and the most paid players) and then these players will get paid less... but anyway... they dont rep the american people...


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[MrFun]

I thought I remember reading somewhere that the U.S. president today, gets paid only about $45,000 a year??

Or am I wrong??

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
133,000 to the common man is an unbelievable amount of money. 133,000 is not much... ha! tell that to people I know...

The comparison shouldn't be to the common man. The salary should reflect the skill required to be a politician and the demands of the jobs.

We all like to criticize politicians, but do you have what it takes to get elected. Do you have interpersonal skills required to convince people that they should elect you as their representative? Do you have the organization skills to run a successful campaign? Do you have the required communication skills?'

When you start looking at what it takes to become a politician, $133,000 doesn't seem like that much.

[nationalist]

To try and follow your logic: Congressional Reps represent particular districts in their state. Should a man representing an area with an average wage of $65,000 have to make $30,000? After all, he represents only one particular group of people not the entire American public. Should a Senator make his state average as oppossed to the national average. After all, he only represents his state. How about Surpreme Court Justices? Technically they don't represent the people. How much should they make?

I think that you can represent people without making as much money as them. Afterall, if a poor man wants to run for Representative he has every right to do so. I think a person who has lived in an area his whole life can represent the people that he has lived with, regardless of his salary. Giving a Congressman $30,000 a year takes much of the incentive away, and only allows for either the very rich or very corrupt to become members of Congress. Right now the common man still has some hope to win. If you don't believe me and want to change things, run for Congrees yourself.