How should Government Officials be paid?

[myfreebees316]

How should government Officials like president, congress and the senators, state governors, even major of city's big and small be paid?

If you ask me a lot of them get paid to much and should be paid a salary no more then what a common man would get paid for a normal job at least average. To many under perform and don't have the interest of the people at heart or give a damn about the people in general they just mostly lie to get in office and push there angenda's. If there paid a normal salary it would cut down on cost and put more back into the economy as a whole and it be equal. Do your job get paid or lose it like any job. Same should go for sports if you under perform you shouldn't be paid the amount of money there given. there paid just like government officials to perform not dissapoint which most do

[monnee]

Minimum wage, since they're suppose to be in office to serve the people and not get rich off the people.  Plus most of the people in office are already rich anyway.

[vickysue]

They should  be only paid just like us, have to pay for their own insurance and retirement and no freebies and are perks. Should have to live like the average joe. I can't see as to where they have really done anything for us, but they get all the benifits. I don't think this is the way our government was set up to be and we as the American public have allowed it to happen. Maybe if we voted them all out and started over with a clean slate and they have to live like us it would improve. I for one am tired of sending money to these countries that hate us, providing the so called prez. and his wife and family with these costly vacations they are taking ( should be made to pay them  back to the public.) All of the life time retirements they all draw. Our country could get back on their feet. Also quit paying the moochers for welfare, and ssi. When they could be working and living like the average Joe that helps pay for their costly living. Crack down on all the fraud there is in our great country.

[carmen4]

I definitely think 1 qualification should be that they live off of minimum wage for some time before they can become an official. They are "all about the people" until money starts rolling in and just grease someones palms. I think then theyd better understand how important certain programs are and better them

[bob1tina]

I think they can afford to get less money instead of expecting all the low income and Disabled they already have a hard time to make ends meat.  There pay is ridiculously high anyways.

[patti4me]

I think they are all paid way too much, especially considering the fact that they don't really do very much for us common people.  I also think they should have to accept the lousy insurance we will all have to put up with under Obamacare;  they should not be exempt.  I believe if we would impose term limits on our congressmen and senators it would take care of a lot of issues.  Line items veto would also help eliminate a lot of crazy stuff getting passed just because its tacked onto another bill. 

[LuckyDeutch]

Yes, they are all over paid . Also I just dont understand how we ran out of money BUT yet they have plenty to give and help other countries.. Hummmmmmm   something is seriously wrong here.... Maybe the government ISNT being paid ENOUGH!!?   

[hawkeye3210]

They have more responsibilities than the average joe, therefore they should be paid more than the average joe.

[minioncookies]

I have to dissagree about the "they do more for than the average joe" What do you consider them doing? They are kinda like puppets they do as they are told.. They really have no human actions to them.. They read scripts someone else wrote, and someone else decides. The president doesnt really do much exept take our tax dollars. But.. Who are we to have a say? We are the people who voted for him... The goverment is corrupt.. I don't belive in the "Goverment" I belive it is just like a fairytale were they portray as a evil villian. But worse because it's the real world. I do belive they need to get paid as the same as us. I don't think they do much of anything exept take our money and "act" like their actually gonna do some good. When the truth really is they are not.. They just want your vote..Untill everyone opens their eyes and we overthrow the goverment.. We have no say.. end of =]

[southernhorizons]

They should  be only paid just like us, have to pay for their own insurance and retirement and no freebies and are perks. Should have to live like the average joe. I can't see as to where they have really done anything for us, but they get all the benifits. I don't think this is the way our government was set up to be and we as the American public have allowed it to happen. Maybe if we voted them all out and started over with a clean slate and they have to live like us it would improve. I for one am tired of sending money to these countries that hate us, providing the so called prez. and his wife and family with these costly vacations they are taking ( should be made to pay them  back to the public.) All of the life time retirements they all draw. Our country could get back on their feet. Also quit paying the moochers for welfare, and ssi. When they could be working and living like the average Joe that helps pay for their costly living. Crack down on all the fraud there is in our great country.

You are right on. If there were no perks and fringe benefits, maybe only the people that really care about the country would get in there. Yes, we do need to start with a clean slate, which means getting rid of both parties. And instead of requiring a lot of money just to run for office, one of the requirements should be that they don't have a lot of money!

[davidh121]

If this was up to me I would say the taxpayers should be billing them for the lousy job they've been doing. Frankly I'm tired with all the scandals, the red tape and inefficiencies.

[hawkeye3210]

I have to dissagree about the "they do more for than the average joe" What do you consider them doing? They are kinda like puppets they do as they are told.. They really have no human actions to them.. They read scripts someone else wrote, and someone else decides. The president doesnt really do much exept take our tax dollars. But.. Who are we to have a say? We are the people who voted for him... The goverment is corrupt.. I don't belive in the "Goverment" I belive it is just like a fairytale were they portray as a evil villian. But worse because it's the real world. I do belive they need to get paid as the same as us. I don't think they do much of anything exept take our money and "act" like their actually gonna do some good. When the truth really is they are not.. They just want your vote..Untill everyone opens their eyes and we overthrow the goverment.. We have no say.. end of =]

Actually, I said they had more responsibilities than the average joe. Which they obviously do. That's why they get paid more. In reality, most of them could make more working in the corporate world and face far less scrutiny.

Of course your little diatribe is counter-intuitive. If you really believe most politicians are just corporate puppets, paying them the same as the average joe just makes it all the more likely they act in the interests of some outside influences.

[Dynamite2013]

I agree that the gov't officials should take a cut in pay then the government wouldn't have to go bankrupt. You would think that they would figure that out. unfortunately that probably want to keep their money so they don't bring it up. And another thing why should we be forced to get health insurance especially if we don't need it. I am very healthy and only spend $25 a month on meds. and soon I will be off of them so why should I get other insurance what I do have is enough. I am retired and over 65 years and I feel like a teenager so I don't expect to get sick enough for hospitals or special doctors.

[skrogman]

I agree.  The same as everyone else.  If a Senator is a bar certified attorney, he should be paid a little over what any other attorney is his field receives, but not thousands over.  I do understand that DC is a high cost of living area, so, yes, sure, that may be figured in.  But his housing and his expenses should be his worry, not comped from our tax money.  I have no desire to pay for White House *bleep* and standard of living.

[bud1]

They  should  be on the same  level  as  us.  They have a double standard  which sucks big time.