When will we learn???

Immoral Profits?? Fair Wages?? The Rich Getting Richer???

All of these phrases have been talking points for the Congressional Leadership in the last few months during the battle to fundamentally transform America. Good politics, maybe. Hypocracy? For certain!!!!!!!!
The problem goes back to the first time a politician got paid more than the average schmuck out earning a living. See, our Founding Fathers understood that being a leader was supposed to entail sacrifice, hence Ben Franklin's plea for not paying members of Congress at all. While he lost that fight, there was a strong movement to limit what members of Congress were paid. Somewhere we went way off track and lost the idea of our government officials being servants and not masters.
Using two websites I found online (links at bottom of page) it's pretty easy to see why our elected officials tell us anything they think we want to hear and try scapegoating every profession from auot execs to bankers to insurance companies in order to stay in office.
Until the 1970's, Congressional pay was right at or just below the average pay for the American worker. In 1973-1974 the average income for an American worker was approx $45,000 per year. In 1975 Congress voted themselves a pay raise taking the average Congressional salary to $44,600. From here it all goes downhill.
In 1980, the year Reagan was elected, the average American worker's salary had dropped a touch to around $41,000. We were in a huge recession, Carter had given us stagflation causing that number to drop all the way through 1984. At the same time Congress voted themselves pay raises in 1977 ($57,500 avg), 1979 ($60,662 avg), 1983 ($69,800) and 1984 ($72,600).
Hmmmm, isn't it odd that these are the same people who complain about the rich getting richer, evil profits, and how they are looking out for the little guy. Let's keep in mind that throughout this period Democrats completely controlled the House, and mostly controlled the Senate.
How is it that during a recession they never had to take a hit like the American people did???
The story actually gets worse. While the average salary for the American worker has jumped up and down since 1984 (see link below) topping out at just above $50,000 per year and dropping as low as$45,000 approximately, Congress has continued voting itself pay raises. For example, in 1991 the average salary for a member of Congress was $101,900 (a 50% increase from 1984!!!!!) and jumped to $125,100 that same year.
How great would it be if you had a job where you could vote yourself a raise of 25% in a single year without actually doing more work????
And don't think I'm just blaming Democrats on this. From 1994 to 2004 Congress's pay increased another $24,500 (which I admit does look like chump change after the huge increases in the 80's and 90's).
I'm not even going to touch the benefits side - but if you think these people will retire on social security guess again.
I know a lot of this is wonkish, and some folks will get lost in the numbers, but the point is we are ASKING Congress to lie to us. In order to keep these cushy jobs Congress has to make it look like they are doing more and more. The truth is, all they are doing is screwing things up.
The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers asks "what good is reading a 1,000 page bill if you don't have two days and two lawyers to understand what it means?" Sorry John, but that what we are paying you $168,000 to do!!! He just admitted to anyone who would listen that he is guilty of dereliction of duty, but I'll bet you $1,000 that he will get re-elected.
The fault lies with the American people in this. If Congress has a 21% approval rating how is it that 80% of the members get re-elected? I'd like to start a movement called "throw the bums out", but since all the fundraising advantages are given to the incumbent, we can expect to see this happen election after election.
When will the American people realize that our system can't work if we not only allow our elected representatives to lie to us, but we beg for more lies each term. The incentive is obvious. In order to keep your position, offer more and more free ice cream to blocks of voters. Whether offering to save mortgages, pay for higher education, or cash for clunkers, the list goes on and on. If you wait long enough the politicians are sure to offer something that appeals to you. Problem is there is no free ride, and sooner or later the fix causes more problems. Which of course, congress has a great new plan for. It's a vicious cycle which never ends. We are still fighting the "war on poverty" that started in 1960 with LBJ!
Oh by the way, the average household income in the US for 2007 rose to $50,233 (US Census Bureau). So your average member of Congress is only earning 3.3 times what the average American HOUSEHOLD earns. Think there might be a problem??? Maybe we should ask Nancy Pelosi about immoral salaries?
In fact, anyone who plans to attend a town hall meeting with in ther district over the break should ask why congress believes earning that much is moral? Be interesting to hear that answer.
Links
http://www.visualizingeconomics.com/2008/05/04/average-income-in-the-united-states-1913-2006/
http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_pay.htm

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2009/08/john-conyers-im-not-going-to-read-bill.html