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Forum Post: Wages for Congress.

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 5, 2011, 3:19 p.m. EST by Truthseeker99 (99)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

The people should be able to vote by referendum on Congressional and Executive Branch wages and compensation. Limit federal pensions to only one, not multiple federal pensions. Government employees (including Congress) should have to pay for their own healthcare. Also, politicians running for office should have to freeze all investments while holding office.

31 Comments

31 Comments


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[-] 2 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

another suggested tying the houses health care and retirement to the safety net provided to the public

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago
[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

not every human is financially motivated

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

That's a very good point. They are mainly motivated by power. Power comes in committee assignment memberships. We could use the same idea of incentives. When the economy falters, fire Congressmen and Senators who hold committee memberships and chairmanships. When a company does badly Sr. management is fired or demoted. We should do the same for congress. Short of voting people out removing them from committee memberships is the next best thing.

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

But why should they get a better system than other Americans? They should be bound by the same constraints as all other Americans. If we pay their salaries with our taxes, we should have a say over the amount of benefits they receive.

[-] 2 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

and the health benefits they receive should be the health benefits all receive

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

Amen!!

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

How about Pay for Performance for Politicians:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/link-congressional-pay-to-performance/

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

How To Fix Congress

connect their health care and social net with the public's

http://occupywallst.org/forum/how-to-fix-congress/

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

How about Pay for performance for Politicians?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/link-congressional-pay-to-performance/

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

the only problem with pay for performance is nobody can agree on which are the politicians doing a good job. The right thinks Pelosi and Reid are scum and Boehner and Cantor and McConnell are great. The left feels the opposite. So who gets the pay for performance?

[-] 2 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Use objective performance measures that the Bureau of Labor Statistics already keeps, unemployment, GDP, military casualties, etc. It doesn't matter who caused the problem, if they are in office, they are in charge, the buck stops with them, and they get or they forfeit the bonus. This will incentivize them to work to find the correct solutions together.

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

ok, how do we do it and how soon?

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

As soon as you and other people are willing to make it happen, sign the petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/link-congressional-pay-to-performance/

[-] 1 points by Allrighty (32) 12 years ago

This is one idea that almost everyone can get behind no matter what side of the political spectrum they are on. The Founding Father's never meant for the position of Senator and Congressman to be a paid position. It was a short term voluntary position and then the volunteers returned home and to their regular job. The Founders knew that once money was involved that corruption could only follow. They were right.

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago
[-] 1 points by Allrighty (32) 12 years ago

Most of them are millionaires. I don't think they care much about the paltry $100K per year that they get. They like the bribes and the power that comes with the job. Definitely we need term limits.

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

That's a very good point. They are mainly motivated by power. Power comes in committee assignment memberships. We could use the same idea of incentives. When the economy falters, fire Congressmen and Senators who hold committee memberships and chairmanships. When a company does badly Sr. management is fired or demoted. We should do the same for congress. Short of voting people out removing them from committee memberships is the next best thing.

[-] 0 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

Anyway, those who want to help themselves and their country by being involved in governing it should do it without any benefits. The are enough of good people in country of 300 mil, who would not hesitate to do such job as volunteers.

[-] 0 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

But here is much better proposition: If someone express desire to participate in governing the country he should be qualified (pass high school exams on subjects he want to deal with) then he should run for office and if elected, work as volunteer. No pay. Period. That will keep greedy applicants out and elected from taking seat for too long. After that he should be prohibited to use this job for making money. That will keep corruption down.

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

Then we get to the problems with the education system. Six years ago, I tutored a new community college student having problems in a Western Civilization class. She didn't even know who the participants in WWII were. She couldn't find China on a map, and thought Africa was a single country. In order for your idea to work we have to have an educated population.

[-] 1 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

From 300 mil population we should find someone to pass high school test...

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

one can only hope!

[-] 1 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

You can ask me high school questions. I was an A student. And then we have Google... Ha-ha! But I enjoy movement anyway!

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

I've been thinking about your posts. Do you really believe anyone would volunteer to serve purely for the joy of serving?

[-] 1 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

Volunteering in the government? Sure! I would do it just so I can meet there nice people to socialize. To me one of the best ways to communicate is by working. You will be surprised how many people would love to do it. Especially in the USA. And whole social environment can be changed to enjoyable. We can be proud by our country again. And it can be very productive. Imagine how many hours of work can be saved, just on bookkeeping.

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

You might. But unfortunately not everyone else holds the same attitudes. there are bad apples everywhere who just want to screw things up. Just explore this site and you will find a lot of jerks just trying to be mean and mess with those they don't agree with.

[-] 1 points by CancelCurrency (128) 12 years ago

You are right! A lot of bad people everywhere! But despite all the problems we keep advancing. Some people still eat human flesh but our worst will not do that. That is a proof that even the worst are thinking sometimes. We can't stop moving forward because some jerk. Look at this movement. Not matter how many retards we have, OWS exist on the base of good will. A lot of people loosing money here instead of making, but that does not stop them. The old world is over. I think the better one already inspiring us. Money is not forever.

[-] 1 points by Truthseeker99 (99) 12 years ago

money is only a human construct. collectively we give it value. collectively we can get rid of it or at least get it out of politics.

[-] 1 points by cmt (1195) from Tolland, CT 12 years ago

If something takes a lot of time, only the rich can volunteer to do it. Governing would fall into that category.

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