You may have meant this sarcastically, but I do think we should reconsider their incentive structure. $250k a year may sound like a lot, but a 25 yo on Wall St (3 years out of college) makes about that much.
By keeping their salary at $250k, I think we make it tempting for them to earn extra money from lobbyists. Again, I recognize that $250k a year is a lot for most of the country, but in the big cities (NYC, DC, LA) where they are and compared to their social circle, $250k is actually quite low.
I like Singapore's model, where they pay their politicians quite a lot (especially at the back end with retirement benefits), but cut it all off if there is corruption involved.
I agree with you in theory, it'll never be enough for some people. However, around the edges, we can hopefully make it easier for people (Congress) to do the right thing by increasing their salary.
I'll give you a crazy example - Bridgewater (biggest hedge fund in the world, it's been performing like crap over the past 5 years) pays their secretary about $100-125k a year.
The problem isn't their salary it's the lack of enforcement of the law. The fastest past to wealth is politics. The bribery and collusion will not stop because of a pay increase. The bribery and collusion is the bonus money that makes up most of their income. Raise salaries, they have more seed capital for the big business.
Public servants should be honored to represent our nation and paid for their time, then leave.
It’s honestly really great that you’re trying to make some sense of this but you’re not exactly understanding how this works.
It’s not just bribery and influence once they get to DC.
It’s bribery and influence to first get elected. Then more bribery and influence once they get there.
It costs tens of millions to elect someone to the house.
Also these lobbyists write 100% of the bills completely.
Here’s some great background to read, it’s an awesome article. If you don’t agree with anything I say that’s fine but PLEASE read this, it explains so much:
I’m not saying there arent ways to try to fix or address this but.
It needs to be almost a complete tear down in terms of both the election financing process AND the bill writing process works. Along with making lobbying explicitly illegal.
Giving these people more money for any reason is from a simply principled perspective not an acceptable solution.
This is not smart. You're answer to corrupt politicians is giving them more money? I get the principle behind it, but politicians are weasels and snakes. The first thing we need to do is ban lawyers from being career politicians. They'll continue to ass rape us.
We need smaller government. The federal government should protect us, give us a set of laws, and give us a theater in court. That's it. We don't need the federal government putting bullshit safety regulations into action. Federal minimum wage hurts low skilled people. Listen to Milton Friedman. Absolute genius and a decent man.
Oh yeah, I love Milton Friedman and totally agree with small government especially on the federal level, with more power on the state and local level.
A poster above referenced a CTH article which I do think is far more comprehensive and well thought out than what I was thinking. I agree what I was saying is probably the least effective (probably ineffective) fix of the current system.
Overall, if I could wave a magic wand, I would absolutely get rid of 90% of the current government positions and go back to decentralized and small government. But I have no idea on how to get there, so maybe I'll just follow what Sundance is saying cuz he's thought about this a lot than me.
You may have meant this sarcastically, but I do think we should reconsider their incentive structure. $250k a year may sound like a lot, but a 25 yo on Wall St (3 years out of college) makes about that much.
By keeping their salary at $250k, I think we make it tempting for them to earn extra money from lobbyists. Again, I recognize that $250k a year is a lot for most of the country, but in the big cities (NYC, DC, LA) where they are and compared to their social circle, $250k is actually quite low.
I like Singapore's model, where they pay their politicians quite a lot (especially at the back end with retirement benefits), but cut it all off if there is corruption involved.
It's never enough
I agree with you in theory, it'll never be enough for some people. However, around the edges, we can hopefully make it easier for people (Congress) to do the right thing by increasing their salary.
I'll give you a crazy example - Bridgewater (biggest hedge fund in the world, it's been performing like crap over the past 5 years) pays their secretary about $100-125k a year.
The problem isn't their salary it's the lack of enforcement of the law. The fastest past to wealth is politics. The bribery and collusion will not stop because of a pay increase. The bribery and collusion is the bonus money that makes up most of their income. Raise salaries, they have more seed capital for the big business.
Public servants should be honored to represent our nation and paid for their time, then leave.
I think the citizen should be able to issue criminal charges against politicians.
It’s honestly really great that you’re trying to make some sense of this but you’re not exactly understanding how this works.
It’s not just bribery and influence once they get to DC.
It’s bribery and influence to first get elected. Then more bribery and influence once they get there.
It costs tens of millions to elect someone to the house.
Also these lobbyists write 100% of the bills completely.
Here’s some great background to read, it’s an awesome article. If you don’t agree with anything I say that’s fine but PLEASE read this, it explains so much:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/02/22/dcs-legislative-business/
I’m not saying there arent ways to try to fix or address this but.
It needs to be almost a complete tear down in terms of both the election financing process AND the bill writing process works. Along with making lobbying explicitly illegal.
Giving these people more money for any reason is from a simply principled perspective not an acceptable solution.
Very very good point. Thanks
THIS ^^^^ 100%. They represent their lobbyists. It’s as simple as that.
This is not smart. You're answer to corrupt politicians is giving them more money? I get the principle behind it, but politicians are weasels and snakes. The first thing we need to do is ban lawyers from being career politicians. They'll continue to ass rape us.
We need smaller government. The federal government should protect us, give us a set of laws, and give us a theater in court. That's it. We don't need the federal government putting bullshit safety regulations into action. Federal minimum wage hurts low skilled people. Listen to Milton Friedman. Absolute genius and a decent man.
Oh yeah, I love Milton Friedman and totally agree with small government especially on the federal level, with more power on the state and local level.
A poster above referenced a CTH article which I do think is far more comprehensive and well thought out than what I was thinking. I agree what I was saying is probably the least effective (probably ineffective) fix of the current system.
Overall, if I could wave a magic wand, I would absolutely get rid of 90% of the current government positions and go back to decentralized and small government. But I have no idea on how to get there, so maybe I'll just follow what Sundance is saying cuz he's thought about this a lot than me.
Why don't we just make it illegal to sell our country out? Oh, because they make the laws.
Found AOC's lurker account j/k
Hahahaha, oh man, it hurts that this is so bang on. Also, to be called out by Darth Vader is just icing on the cake 🤣
Your idea definitely has some merit, not gonna lie. Just saw the opportunity and had to strike.