Comments on: Give Congress Perks And A Raise

CBS's Meyer: It's Easy To Gripe About Lobbyists, But You Get The Politicians You Pay For

[ov442]

YOu are a FOOL! NO amount of money will EVER stop a greedy person from committing crimes and sins to get more. Period.
The ones that are trying every trick in the book to make deals are doing it because after congress is done with them, they go out and make those same millions as payback for all the favors they gave out while in office.
If we wasted our tax money by paying these morons more, they would just get richer and do the same things, if not WORSE.

Besides, its public service. Thats youre reward period. If you arent doing it for the public good, get out.

[bm6005]

I say we let them out of DC with their skin(maybe). That''s the only bonus I''ll go for. These criminals all need to be brought up on charges!!

[enriquecaliente]

This article was a joke, right.

[dhague]

These guys get themselves elected to Congress, and build a network of connections within the government during their tenure. Then, armed with their contacts and intimate knowledge of how the Legislative branch actually operates, they leave their elected positions and go to work for themselves selling their influence to the anyone with sufficient cash.

It''s bad enough that so many of them are elected through political campaigns funded by wealthy corporations and other interests. After leaving "public" life they are free to continue to work for the folks who got them elected in the first place at a healthy personal profit, without fear of being accused of "conflict of interest".

We might as well simply allow corporate America to appoint our legislators and spare us the periodic baloney festivals and advertising campaigns that pass for campaigns these days.

It strikes me as being decidedly immoral, but it will never be illegal as long as folks like these are in a position to make the laws.

[cfin5]

And why would that be enough? It''''s never enough for the pimps and punks that are running our government these days.

Posted by gkc99 at 08:53 PM : Jan 17, 2008-----------You got that right. Along time ago one of the big bankers (JP Morgan maybe?) was asked how much money is enough money. He answered simply,......Just a little more.

[gkc99]

"Senators should make at least a million and House members at least $750,000, probably more. They should have huge private accounts and travel budgets so that they would never be tempted by a junket, feast or floozy financed by a lobbyist."


And why would that be enough? It''s never enough for the pimps and punks that are running our government these days.

[cfin5]

Scrolling through these comments reveals a close conciseness to the problem. Ron Paul has addressed this issue and has said the same thing. Could be some other candidates have also, but I prefer an election year speech of a candidate to match up with their public service walk. That cuts through a lot of spin for me. If you think that there is a better way to believe someone''s promises,.....then spit it out. I''ll be checking back here from time to time........Ron Paul, proven public servant of our Constitution in 2008! GO USA!!!

[pangerban]

What delightful satire. Mr. Meyer has a puckish sense of humor, but we Americans are in no mood for such banter. A more realistic proposal would call for turning Congress into a corps of real volunteers who would draw a small stipend while living in spartan conditions in a government dormitory. A term would be three years, with a maximum of two terms. Only people dedicated to helping America -- not themselves -- would be accepted in this elite corps. Unfortunately, though, Congress is firmly in the hands of corrupt fat cats -- and their apologists, like Mr. Meyer.

[kansas1946]

LOL. This whole idea sounds good, but it wouldn''t work. This whole idea is based on the premise that the reason politicians can be bought is because they need the money. Nonsense. The reason they can be bought is because they are unethical and immoral to begin with. And for those kind of folks, no amount of money is enough. The more money they have the more they will want, so the lobbyists will just up the ante. There is no amount of money that an ethical person could be bought for, and there not a small enough amount that an unethical person wouldn''t take it. Just quit electing immoral, unethical, crooks, and that will solve the problem.

[cs4466]

No public office should offer pay above minimum wage. No person holding public office should ever be able to accept any charitable donation in any form exceeding $1000 *total* per annum. If you want to rule, then live on the bottom-most rung. I guarantee the fortunes of the poor will improve and the rich will be less rich, but they''ll still have a ton of money. Power should carry a steep price or it will be sought after with dishonorable intent.