Now THIS is interesting -- check out THIS petition!

[Donnachaidh]

Just found this on the net:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/petition_to_reduce_the_wages_of_congress_men_and_women_from_174000_per_year_to_50000_per_year


Targeting: The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate and The U.S. House of Representatives
Started by: Michael Madson

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO REDUCE THE ANNUAL SALARY OF SENATORS AND CONGRESS MEN AND WOMEN FROM $174,000 PER YEAR TO $50,000 PER YEAR.

The average congress man and woman make $174,000 per year, legally.

That money is paid to them by the government, by the people, from the taxes you and I pay into the system.

In these tough economic times, I vote the men and women of congress reduce their annual salary to a more realistic level, $50,000, per year.

That is a good salary, with all of the vacations and outside money they are allowed to make, legally, they should be so lucky.

If you feel the men and women of congress should reduce their annual salary from $174,000 per year to $50,000 per year, please sign this petition to support my effort to make it a reality.

If 100 million people signed this petition, they would listen, they would have to listen.

If they cannot get by on $50,000 per year, a sum many would love to take home right now in these economic times, they can quit.

There are many people who will gladly run for their positions, take their positions and do a better job for $50,000 a year and serve the people well in the process.

Their job is to serve us, not themselves.


Comments?

[Bobbieo]

1. WOW!!! I'll sign it.

[Mira]

2. Smiling and recommending nt

[Monique1]

8. I'll sign it

This is interesting because I called Jan Brewer here in Az and of course had to leave a voice mail. I basically said the same thing of our elected officials here. I said the workers in Az are losing their jobs, asked to take a pay cut or work less hours but I don't see our elected officials being an example. They should be the first to make a sacrifice and live by example. Why isn't the tea party people saying something about this?

Now that I heard that Brewer, Arpio and Pearce are running around the country encouraging hate - I'm going to push this more. Why are these people running around the country stirring hate? We are paying their salary to work in this state not traveling around the country.

It is time for elected officials, all of them, to set the example for the people not preach to the people.

[gateley]

3. My first reaction is that's a bit severe, especially having to keep two households

(at home, in DC), but maybe they would finally understand what it's like for the rest of us.

Won't ever happen. Years ago our State Senate secretly voted to give themselves a raise in a midnight session AFTER the citizens had voted against it.

[bluethruandthru]

10. Maybe we can just put up some big dorms

for them to live in when they get to DC. That way they won't need additional housing! :) Taxpayers will cover their housing costs - in the dorms - and then we'll reduce their pay to 50K.

Seems reasonable...right? :evilgrin:

[gateley]

12. Sounds fair to me! And even those I like, they get out of touch after living

in that bubble after a while. A reality check is in order.

[Oceansaway]

4. K&R...n/t

[Warpy]

5. yes and no

Remember, these people are still paying their mortgage back in their home states along with property monitoring and maintenance services. $50K won't do it.

However, $100K probably will. What I really want to end are their automatic raises every year that kick in unless they're specifically voted down. Make them vote to raise their pay, not vote to refuse a raise.

And publish it.

[Donnachaidh]

9. Even in light of the fact that they are playing politics with both UI and SS?

I think this petition is more of a verbal *warning shot* to make our reps sit up and take notice. I consider the fact that 38 people a minute are losing benefits while these people dither around and fingerpoint and do NOTHING.

With the Catfood Commission and threats of *austerity* budget cuts, I think this is a good starting point to push back. But ymmv. :shrug:

[Xipe Totec]

6. Let them keep the salary; it's peanuts compared to campaign contributions

The last thing we need is to have them even more beholden to corrupt corporations for their income.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. +1

[madamesilverspurs]

7. Cronkite

once did a story on members of Congress voting themselves a raise. The following night he issued a correction stating that he had inaccurately reported that the members of Congress 'earned' their pay...


-

[Jefferson23]

11. Most of them don't need the money, and not why they're there in the first place.

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29235.html

[JoeyT]

13. I don't want them to make 50k a year.

I want them to have to LIVE on 50k a year.
Making 50k a year is meaningless if you've got 50 million in the bank. So if they've got a bunch of assets going in then make them shelve them until their term is up. If they don't like it they can not run. Enforce the hell out of bans on perks too.

Maybe then they'd understand what it's like to live as middle class and be a bit more sympathetic.