Pay

All this talk about how in debt we are got me to start thinking.

Did you know: (data from 2005)

Executive Branch

• President: $400,000; $50,000 expense account; $100,000 nontaxable for travel; $19,000 official entertainment account; free housing
• Retired president: $150,000 pension; plus $150,000 to maintain staff
• Former first lady: $20,000
• Vice president: $208,100; $10,000 expense account; free housing
• Presidential Cabinet member (i.e. secretary of defense, attorney general, etc.): $157,000 

Legislative Branch

• Speaker of the House of Representatives: $208,100
• Senate president pro tempore: $180,100
• Senate and House majority and minority leaders: $180,100
• Other senators and representatives: $162,100

Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court chief justice: $208,100
• Supreme Court associate justices: $199,200
• Circuit judges: $171,800
• District judges: $162,100

 The household median income is $49,777. (according to 2009 census)

THIS IS ABSURD!

Here's a little article that will put things a little in perspective: http://articles.cnn.com/2003-06-13/politics/senators.finances_1_financial-disclosure-financial-holdings-ranges?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

These people (AT THE MINIMUM) make over three times as much as the average US household.  Why are we paying these people so much?  It's not like they can't get their jobs afterwards.  Nothing like having US Congressman on your resume to get a job.  Nothing is preventing their spouse to have a job either.  Yes, yes, you'll argue that being part of congress is stressful and you put a lot of hours in doing it.  You know what?  I know people that work two jobs have kids and put in over 60 hours a week to help keep their family afloat, and personally I think that's pretty stressful.

Here's my suggestion: 

Executive Branch

• President: $200,000; $25,000 expense account; $50,000 nontaxable for travel; $19,000 official entertainment account; free housing
• Retired president: $100,000 pension
• Vice president: $150,000; $10,000 expense account; free housing
• Presidential Cabinet member (i.e. secretary of defense, attorney general, etc.): $100,000

Legislative Branch

• Speaker of the House of Representatives: $150,000
• Senate president pro tempore: $110,000
• Senate and House majority and minority leaders: $110,000
• Other senators and representatives: $100,000

Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court chief justice: $150,000
• Supreme Court associate justices: $125,000
• Circuit judges: $100,000
• District judges: $100,000 

Average savings per year (that could be used towards something else): $33,925,500

With the changes I suggested it would still give the elected government officials a bump over the average US household (double instead of three times) but wouldn't put them so drastically above the average citizen that they might not see his woes.  I heard a statement last week, if congress was making minimum wage watch how quick the minimum wage would change.  Seriously, there is no reason that we should be paying these people this much to go to war with each other because they are different party instead of fixing things that are wrong with the country.  Don't get me wrong, I love my country, but it has a long way to go from being perfect.

Political Parties

Ok, this one is a double post (since I missed last Friday to being out of town).

First, let’s talk about the political parties.  Political parties are a big problem in this country and in our government.  The problem with these parties is that they are “right wing” or “left wing”.  I’m not even discussing the independents that pop up now again.  I’m talking about Democrat and Republican parties.  The problem is that they forget that they are Americans first and a Republican or Democrat second.  Governments have a very hard time passing anything when one party has the majority of the government and when there are conflicting parties controlling different parts of the government forget about getting anything accomplished.

The conflicts between the parties make it seem like our government is at war with itself.  Issues aren’t discussed they are battled.  Each party is opposing the other just because it doesn’t fit with their parties’ structure.  Really?  What the hell?  Most people aren’t so cut and dry on the issues.  Their opinions vary depending on the topic.  What do you do?  Do you take the key issues and whatever you favor most is that what party you belong too?  “I favor 5 out of 9 parties’ key issues with Democrats; therefore, I must be a Democrat.”  WRONG.  It makes you human.

Do away with the 2 party system.  Hell, do away with full party system in general.  Independents can never get the funding, power, or marketing to ever put up a fight for president.  Luckily we have a small few independents throughout congress.  The party system made sense at first.  It prevented 100 people running for president and the public to be focused on the "best people for the job."  Now it just forces people to choose from the lesser of two evils.

There needs to be a third, fourth, fifth, and maybe even a sixth option.  The problem isn't just for the president.  It needs to be for all the levels of government.  Otherwise, we'll have a president that can't pass anything because the congress discriminates against him because of his party.

Either way, my point is this.  The political parties need to go away.  Let's focus on the issues to get someone elected not what party they belong to.

Introduction

Introduction Post.

It seems many people have opinions today and I just happen to have some myself.  I love my country, but I feel there are some things that our wonderful government is doing wrong.  Each Saturday I'll go into detail about one or more topics that I feel strongly about and hopefully you'll read them with an open mind.

Remember these are my opinions and I'm entitled to them.  That doesn't make them right or wrong and hopefully you'll take away some useful knowledge along the way.

Note: I'm not a professional politician. I work a day job just like most of America.  My opinions have been boiling for over for a while and I'm pretty sure my wife is sick of them, so I put them up on the net for everyone to get sick of them. :)