Remove pensions from all elected officials and reduce their pay by up to 60%

As of now, these pathetic excuses of politicians make anywhere from 250K-to-500 K and that's not including what they do with it, book sales and everything else that comes with it. The Founders didn't want lifer politicians, but that comes with the absurdity of their current pay rate. It should barely be 40,000 a year if that. What part of their job, especially in an automated age is anymore complicated than a mcdonalds worker?


This 116th Congress is responsible for the Recession we live in, it's responsible for its willing ignorance to the crisis it created and it shows no signs of being accountable or helpful in the future. So strip them of their freaking overpaid benefits.

If being a lawmaker is no more financially incentive than a daily 9 to 5 job, the government may actually once again be accessible to the people. If it's no longer incentive for a ****ing leech to leech onto the government, we can get good results again.

#stripthemoftheirpay

 

None of the "common" people would be able to afford to serve in Congress at $40,000 a year - the living expenses in DC far outstrip that ... unless,
Congress met virtually for 95% of the year - which isn't a bad idea.

Only the rich could afford to stay in Congress, or they would be even more at the mercy of lobbyists to pay for their housing and meals.

 

OR..... We could build a dorm for Congress Critters in which they can live in while serving. They could live there under HUD guide lines with the rent based on their income.

 

This is a good idea, you don't even have to build a dorm. Rent out a Hotel(Trump had the right idea here) and have it as their meeting place. We can reduce Congressional Critter costs by 80%. We might even be able to use that money to pay down student debt in a nod to Liberals!

 

I think virtual meetings would be better. Keep elected officials in their districts so they can get real-time feed back from
their voters and meet with them regularly. Maybe 10 days a year in DC for special events. Keep them away from the concentration of lobbyists.

 

I wouldn't rent out a hotel. The owner of the hotel might use their position to further X cause. I'd prefer we stuck to the build a dorm idea. That way its on federal land and Congress critters have no excuse to "favor" someone. Additionally it would be easier and cheaper to have security there than at a hotel.

 

I agree. No government worker should receive benefits uncommon for workers in the private sector. Government worker is an oxymoron.

 

There are things which should only be discussed face to face. And virtual is easily hacked.

 

Then again, you have to pay representatives enough to live in Washington DC, and that ain't cheap, otherwise it will only
be the wealthy who run for office or the poor will be even more at the mercy of lobbyists for funds than they are now.

 

They can apply for foodstamps. :shrug: They just won't get their $100 crab dinners anymore. :shrug:

 

Fair, but in building a new whole building, there's building permits, construction, bricks and the likes, etc it adds up relatively quickly.

 

Like everything else, if you want the best people for the job, you have to pay folks or only the rich will be able to afford to "serve".

If you really want to shorten the terms and get better representation, then get rid Citizens' United and corporate lobbyists. If a politico can still raise dark PAC monies from "anyone", it does not matter what they make in annual salary.

 

Or we can include these reforms to go with it. We have the most expensive government in the world, it's time to let THEM have cake.

 

I'm willing for our money to go to that than to go over seas to countries that suppress people.

 

Let 'em live on a military base. Their salary should be commensurate with military pay. One term and you leave office. No pension. Then you would have only patriots willing to serve, not the prima donnas.

 

I have often thought two things about Congress. (1) Members of Congress should be term-limited. (2) Being a member of Congress should be like being an officer in the military. When they are elected and come to Washington, they should be offered "officer" housing on a nearby military base. (Ft. Belvoir, Andrews AFB, and Marine Corps Base Quantico come to mind.) In case you're not familiar, this is nice housing. And, military bases have shopping, schools for children, and recreational facilities. All necessities of life are available on a military base. Members of Congress should be provided with a driver/security professional to move them to and from their residences and the Capitol and as needed. (Traffic around D.C. is a nightmare, especially for the uninitiated.) Like members of the military, they should receive free medical care for themselves and their families during their service. Pay should be similar to a military colonel, somewhere around $120K a year. This is less than the $174K they receive now, but they would have no housing or medical expense. Communication expenses (phone, internet, etc) should be free. We should even provide them with twice a year round trip air travel to their home state (includes spouses and children). Basically, we would be providing them with a comfortable (not extravagant) life during the limited time of their service, and with everything they needed to carry out their service. Essentially, this is what we already do for members of the military. It would certainly not be a big leap to simply extend the same thing to members of Congress.

 

Jesus Christ, if the human garbage that runs our government are the "best people for the job", I am willing to pay much less to get much less than the best.

 

I guarantee that if you cut the pay of the folks who have to work in and around DC prices would rapidly reflect it. This is why democrats should never be given a checkbook...

 

There are indeed a whole lot of worthless politicians BUT I don't see your solution as a good answer. First, DC is very expensive to live in and if you have a residence in your state plus a residence in DC, that takes a lot of money. I want quality people doing the job, not hamburger flippers, which is what you get if you make the job too unattractive. Now, I don't disagree that most of the current ones are pieces of crap but I would find another solution.

 

Who says a politician has to live in Washington? We now have computer link-ups and video conferencing. Let 'em "work from home". Pay 'em less and restrict 'em to one term.

 

Psssssst! Single term limit. That is the simple, effective answer.

 

Well, you did with the crook from 2016 to 2020.