A Farewell to Huge Buckets of Cash for Politicians

[Good as Gold]

Hi, I'm Good as Gold. And I'm mad as hell. See, I'm not really an American, but I'm working on it- I'm working on becoming a citizen right now. That's right! I'm running the hell away from Britain! But I digress: There is a problem with the time honored traditions of US Big Government: They've got to go. They are the reason our system is hugely corrupted and perhaps one of the many other reasons why we're in a huge financial crisis. We are paying our politicians. Look around. Who's in the running for president? A real estate tycoon/lawyer Barrack Obama and a self made rich bastard named McCain. They don't represent shit. Very few people are rich, ( I know I'm not) and those that happen to be are probably going to run for congress or governor or some other crap like that, so who cares? Not since the days of Lincoln and the rest have we really had a man who rose up from nothing to lead the nation. And that's bad! Oh, don't bullshit me with the whole, "Oh, but they get sponsorships and crap because they can pay for them!" deal. Well, fine! Since when do they need sponsorships? You don't have to have money to get people to vote for you. Have some bakery sales or something for god's sake! If you can get the common man to actually buy shit from you, you're getting somewhere.. Here is what my plan is about: A: Stop paying politicians. They are here to lead, not to get cash for 4 to 8 years so they can retire in comfort and spend the rest of their lives golfing. They will get a small stipend of monthly allowance decided by how much the average American makes in a month. This could be used for extracurricular actives or whatever they want... B: Once they begin to run, their accounts and their family's accounts are frozen with whatever amount they had in it before. They cannot take out loans, withdrawal more then a small amount for food and the like, or place any money in. If they drop out before the final election, their account is returned to normal. If they lose in the final election, it is returned to normal. Any donations would be used for the election ONLY, and could not exceed 10 million or something like that. I'm nothing if not fair. C: If they win, 3/4 of the money they have saved up and all subsequent income is distributed to the government to use as they see fit on public projects. They also cannot hold any other job besides the one they have already: Government official. After their term is finished or they otherwise lose the seat of office, they will return to public life with the aforementioned stipend, which will remain until they can find a satisfactory job. D: This would apply to all offices in the United States... Maybe excluding mayor. That would be kinda frugal. Naturally, government workers (the janitor, the secretary, etc) would be unaffected. Without the promise of huge amounts of cash, only people who are really concerned with their government would ever run. This would also stop the damned corporations from running us. Yes, it's a tiny bit pinko commie... But that's what it takes. It's not hurting anyone but the guy who SHOULD be willing to give up everything for his country. I realize it has a few kinks that need working out... But oh well. It's better than the shit that's going on now... Failing this, raise taxes on the wealthy by 20 percent.

[Malac Reborn]

You say as if presidents get millions a year from the office. Last time I checked, their salary were like 200-300k a year. Thats chump change to compared to what they already have. If they were to make millions, it would be through scams they've set using the position they're in. If anyone who wants money for being the president, it would be the poorer man. Rich politicians, have money, so they can "advertise" their campaign and spread the word more than others. That's how this country has been working the last dozens of years (and it needs to change). Rich people are in it for the power and using the opportunity of being rich to do just that. Like I said, there are some that scam others, but mostly for the power too(or will of a higher up). Who knows. Anyways, the point I'm trying make is that their salary should remain at 200k-300k a year. If the most powerful leader of the world was making the same base salary as your local gas station checker, that would be disrespectful. What you should impose are the little scams they use to actually do make a lot of money. And since you're not really an American yet, let us handle our system. Ok? Nice to have people who want to help.You're trying to be an American but until then.. We either fix the problem ourselves or our problem buries us. Which will fate crumble?

[Sornaensis]

No, he's absolutely fucking correct. We need to stop paying idiots who do nothing. They need to get real jobs too. Or, atht he least, make significantly less money. Government shouldn't be a job that you get payed to do, it should be a voluntary kind of thing that anyone can get involved in. Hence, we have Economic fail every 70 years among other things.

[Good as Gold]

You say as if presidents get millions a year from the office. Last time I checked, their salary were like 200-300k a year. Thats chump change to compared to what they already have. If they were to make millions, it would be through scams they've set using the position they're in. If anyone who wants money for being the president, it would be the poorer man. Rich politicians, have money, so they can "advertise" their campaign and spread the word more than others. That's how this country has been working the last dozens of years (and it needs to change). Rich people are in it for the power and using the opportunity of being rich to do just that. Like I said, there are some that scam others, but mostly for the power too(or will of a higher up). Who knows. Anyways, the point I'm trying make is that their salary should remain at 200k-300k a year. If the most powerful leader of the world was making the same base salary as your local gas station checker, that would be disrespectful. What you should impose are the little scams they use to actually do make a lot of money. And since you're not really an American yet, let us handle our system. Ok? Nice to have people who want to help.You're trying to be an American but until then.. We either fix the problem ourselves or our problem buries us. Which will fate crumble? I'm a citizen in training. That's why I said we should take away some of that cash. Personally... A rich CEO or two or twenty sacrificing billions of his cash just to be in office, and then coming out an average joe is fine with me. Of course, a person with little cash and good ideas is great too. That 200-300 k is being wasted. I don't want my (future) dollars going to some dick to sit on his ass when he's already rich. The president doesn't have enough to do to entail a dime more than what someone with an honest job earns in a month.

[Jeff777]

You say as if presidents get millions a year from the office. Last time I checked, their salary were like 200-300k a year. Thats chump change to compared to what they already have. They used to make 200K, however sometime ago...it was raised to 400K.

[Original Poster]

They make their real fortunes by talking to Lobbyists.

[Dreamworld]

Hi, I'm Good as Gold. And I'm mad as hell. See, I'm not really an American, but I'm working on it- I'm working on becoming a citizen right now. That's right! I'm running the hell away from Britain! But I digress: There is a problem with the time honored traditions of US Big Government: They've got to go. They are the reason our system is hugely corrupted and perhaps one of the many other reasons why we're in a huge financial crisis. We are paying our politicians. Look around. Who's in the running for president? A real estate tycoon/lawyer Barrack Obama and a self made rich bastard named McCain. They don't represent shit. Very few people are rich, ( I know I'm not) and those that happen to be are probably going to run for congress or governor or some other crap like that, so who cares? Not since the days of Lincoln and the rest have we really had a man who rose up from nothing to lead the nation. And that's bad! Oh, don't bullshit me with the whole, "Oh, but they get sponsorships and crap because they can pay for them!" deal. Well, fine! Since when do they need sponsorships? You don't have to have money to get people to vote for you. Have some bakery sales or something for god's sake! If you can get the common man to actually buy shit from you, you're getting somewhere.. Here is what my plan is about: A: Stop paying politicians. They are here to lead, not to get cash for 4 to 8 years so they can retire in comfort and spend the rest of their lives golfing. They will get a small stipend of monthly allowance decided by how much the average American makes in a month. This could be used for extracurricular actives or whatever they want... B: Once they begin to run, their accounts and their family's accounts are frozen with whatever amount they had in it before. They cannot take out loans, withdrawal more then a small amount for food and the like, or place any money in. If they drop out before the final election, their account is returned to normal. If they lose in the final election, it is returned to normal. Any donations would be used for the election ONLY, and could not exceed 10 million or something like that. I'm nothing if not fair. C: If they win, 3/4 of the money they have saved up and all subsequent income is distributed to the government to use as they see fit on public projects. They also cannot hold any other job besides the one they have already: Government official. After their term is finished or they otherwise lose the seat of office, they will return to public life with the aforementioned stipend, which will remain until they can find a satisfactory job. D: This would apply to all offices in the United States... Maybe excluding mayor. That would be kinda frugal. Naturally, government workers (the janitor, the secretary, etc) would be unaffected. Without the promise of huge amounts of cash, only people who are really concerned with their government would ever run. This would also stop the damned corporations from running us. Yes, it's a tiny bit pinko commie... But that's what it takes. It's not hurting anyone but the guy who SHOULD be willing to give up everything for his country. I realize it has a few kinks that need working out... But oh well. It's better than the shit that's going on now... Failing this, raise taxes on the wealthy by 20 percent. Do you have an alternate plan..?

[ninja9578]

Barrack Obama is only worth about 1 million dollars. Granted, that's more than most, but he's a harvard grad and has done well. He deserves it. He doesn't take any money from lobbyists so he doesn't have the big cash. Regular Americans are funding his campaign. I can't believe that you mentioned a bake sale! My town just opened a Democratic headquarters and for their opening they had baked goods for sale. All the money went to campaigning for him

[Sornaensis]

Do you have an alternate plan..? Yes: No one in government gets payed unless they are a laborer. Oh, and we get rid of the president and become a decentralized democracy.

[The Cusp]

Their real source of income is from special interest groups, which really comes down to accepting bribes.

[Dreamworld]

Yes: No one in government gets payed unless they are a laborer. Oh, and we get rid of the president and become a decentralized democracy. Haha your joking right? What kind of leader would study political, and social sciences for years, and have the motivation to run the country?.. If anybody does it shows how stupid they are, when they could have used their intellect in finance, or fuck, every other job in the world. Yea and lets see how much the U.S.A would get done with power only at the state level. Ridiculous, that would automatically destroy U.S sovereignty.

[Dreamworld]

Haha your joking right? What kind of leader would study political, and social sciences for years, and have the motivation to run the country?.. If anybody does it shows how stupid they are, when they could have used their intellect in finance, or fuck, every other job in the world. Yea and lets see how much the U.S.A would get done with power only at the state level. Ridiculous, that would automatically destroy U.S sovereignty. Anybody else want to answer this? Sucks Seis got banned..

[IWantToChange]

Well, I'm afraid this is not only about the U.S., a human nature is fundamentally the same everywhere. Since politics influences economical situation and more, people go into politics for wealth. I'm afraid that cutting salaries doesn't mean anything, there are other ways to accumulate wealth if you're in a good position to do it and you can easily hide it. Also it's dubious that people would ever do anything you proposed, rather than as a fake gesture to get you vote for them . Everybody wants money, that's reality we live in. It was always like that, though, just remember kings and peasants, did the king or aristocracy ever care for others? We know pretty well by now that they didn't, I read that peasants in my country worked 14 hours per day at one time. Now times have changed, but it's difficult to believe that human nature changed that much. Nowadays you can care only for yourself all the same, you just have to hide it behind beautiful words to make "peasants" vote for you. Also there's a point about power to consider. It's not only money that's addictive, it's power that's no less addictive. Just picture yourself as a king! Even if by some miracle politics and economy became completely divorced, people would still be coming there for power, not for making YOUR life good. It's very sad, but you can look around and count how many people care for other people. And I mean really care, help them out of their needs, give them money without asking it back, etc. All that without caring much for themselves, being honest, living on grass because they give money to others, etc. I give extreme examples, but they're not really extreme, because you have to be like that to resist many seductions of power and wealth accumulating possibilities and think only about other people. Chances are you won't find such a saint. And whatever it is that makes us think that politicians are different from all the rest of us... They're people like us, in no way different, and if you don't see saints around, it just means that they're just as hard to spot in political circles as in your own.

[Dreamworld]

Well, I'm afraid this is not only about the U.S., a human nature is fundamentally the same everywhere. Since politics influences economical situation and more, people go into politics for wealth. I'm afraid that cutting salaries doesn't mean anything, there are other ways to accumulate wealth if you're in a good position to do it and you can easily hide it. Also it's dubious that people would ever do anything you proposed, rather than as a fake gesture to get you vote for them . Everybody wants money, that's reality we live in. It was always like that, though, just remember kings and peasants, did the king or aristocracy ever care for others? We know pretty well by now that they didn't, I read that peasants in my country worked 14 hours per day at one time. Now times have changed, but it's difficult to believe that human nature changed that much. Nowadays you can care only for yourself all the same, you just have to hide it behind beautiful words to make "peasants" vote for you. Also there's a point about power to consider. It's not only money that's addictive, it's power that's no less addictive. Just picture yourself as a king! Even if by some miracle politics and economy became completely divorced, people would still be coming there for power, not for making YOUR life good. It's very sad, but you can look around and count how many people care for other people. And I mean really care, help them out of their needs, give them money without asking it back, etc. All that without caring much for themselves, being honest, living on grass because they give money to others, etc. I give extreme examples, but they're not really extreme, because you have to be like that to resist many seductions of power and wealth accumulating possibilities and think only about other people. Chances are you won't find such a saint. And whatever it is that makes us think that politicians are different from all the rest of us... They're people like us, in no way different, and if you don't see saints around, it just means that they're just as hard to spot in political circles as in your own. Nobody has power like that, other than in corrupt democracies, like Russia. The only person who has a whiff of that feeling in the U.S.A, is the president, and he too is limited by congress.

[IWantToChange]

I'm afraid that you live in fantasy. But I guess it's good for you.