http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/members-congress-paid-enough-165641960.html

Quote :

"'And by the way, did I mention? They're shooting at us. There is law-enforcement security in this room right now, and why is that?" Southerland told about 125 people in an auditorium at the Westminster Oaks retirement community. "If you think this job pays too much, with those kinds of risks and cutting me off from my family business, I'll just tell you: This job don't mean that much to me. I had a good life in Panama City.' "...He added that 'if you took the hours that I work and divided it into my pay,' the $174,000 salary would not seem so high.""

So I guess everyone downrange should be making 174k a year.

8/30/2011 1:04:10 PM

poor congresspeople.

my asshole fucking weeps for them.

8/30/2011 1:37:24 PM

ignoring the hyperbole and the fact that most of them ARE douchebags, it is actually pretty reasonable to state what he did for a large percentage of Congress factoring in

a) opportunity cost of doing something else (most members of Congress are either attorneys or small business owners with decent net worths)

and

b) the cost of maintaining the double life-style (mortgage+rent or two mortgages for longer serving members) that all but a handful are required to engage in

but, most of them aren't dumb enough to say things like that out loud.

8/30/2011 1:41:52 PM

Quote :

"but, most of them aren't dumb enough to say things like that out loud."

yep, that's the real issue. Whining about $174k a year when we have ~10% unemployment is not a good look.

8/30/2011 1:44:01 PM

I don't really see how the opportunity cost of doing something else is any kind of valid argument for why you should be paid more. I don't recall ever voting for someone who was forced to run for office.

I have a bunch of friends who work for Major League Baseball. I never once hear them complain about getting paid shit (which they do) because they could be sitting at a computer doing boring shit in finance instead.

8/30/2011 2:54:23 PM

Congress is not about the money.

Most presidential candidates could make far more money doing something else, but you still see wealthy people running for president every election, and you would even if it paid nothing.

[Edited on August 30, 2011 at 5:39 PM. Reason : This guy needs to stop whining, if you think you should make more money don't run next time]

8/30/2011 5:38:44 PM

I'll grant that many congressmen work like dogs, are assailed by constant (and frequently inane) complaints and requests, and have expenses that most people will never have to deal with -- owning two residences, frequent transportation between DC and sometimes far-flung constituencies. But any congressman who complains about his salary needs to be tossed out on his ear, regardless of how well the economy is doing. They've got one of few jobs in the country where they can vote to pay themselves more. Most importantly, the job is about service and (I'm sure) the honor and respect that comes with the office. If you wanted to get paid, you should have kept chasing ambulances.

8/30/2011 10:45:21 PM

aren;t they reimbursed for the second residence? come on...

8/30/2011 11:44:08 PM