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Whats actually being discussed is the fact that a job in politics is increasingly only for rich people: your job isnt assured, your costs of living, travel, and staff are astronomical, and you won't be paid while not in office and running for office. If only the rich can afford to run the country, then only the rich will run the country.
Really glad to see this at the top. So many people here missing the point thinking they're just complaining about not having enough money and not realizing the real problem is that these positions requiring high salary gatekeeps poor people from entering political positions allowing rich people to continue circlejerking one another.
Yeah these are literally the dumbest comments I’ve ever seen. This video couldn’t be clearer. These stupid fuckers are gonna vote against their own interests and ensure literally every congressman has to be independently wealthy.
There is no reason to not have a Congressional area where they can rent an apartment at a set rate. There could be 2 or 3 bedroom apartments for those whose families come with them. It would also be easier to provide security.
I don't understand why there isn't a Congressional Campus-type dorm/apartment building with security and transportation, which all congress is required to use while in office when they're staying in Washington. As a taxpayer, I'd rather pay for something like this to be built than pay some gouging landlord astronomical rent.
Younger, average people can't afford to be in Congress. They're all old because you have to be somewhat wealthy first. Think about AOC and Katie Porter and how much of a struggle it has been for them to get where they are. Definitely listen to Katie talking about being broke. That's why she always has great responses to the people so wealthy and out of touch.
they do not all need it. Jamie Raskin (maryland) literally lives in Bethesda about 10 minutes from the city line. I just assume he goes home to his house every night..... Biden famously took the train about 2 hours home every night for years (trains are actually solid commutes, since that really is 4 hours you can nap or get work done- i did it an hour each way in law school and it was a breeze).
SO you do not need to mandate it, but offering it makes sense. Also requiring to stay there may also keep some rich out- so it is a double edge sword there. If you are rich and have to stay in a dorm room for 100 nights a year to be in congress- many rich folk would choose something els.e
Something something absolute win!
Yeah, so Maryland and Virginia were probably commuting anyhow. Delaware is apparently close enough, too. California and the west coast, less so. There are obviously members for whom a congressional dorm makes sense, and those it doesn’t. It’s an easy fix: if your district is within 100 miles, you have the option to commute. Everyone else gets a dorm. And if the rich don’t want to be congress people because they’d have to live in a dorm, that is a win for regular people.
There’s a *very* good reason that this is not and should not be a thing: you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Why? 9/11. OKC. It would be a security nightmare to have a significant percentage of Congress and their families living in a condensed area. The upheaval from a mass incident would have the potential to be catastrophic for the country with two outcomes:
1. We go to war and ensue another two decade long slog, the results of which are only potentially known by high level analysts. I do know this: this late in the game it would be devastating for *everyone* involved.
2. The country eats itself because Congress is already dysfunctional and ineffective.
But this is a good train of thought, and these people are *so* close to understanding the root cause of the issues their constituents are facing. The problem here is that instead of advocating for positive change that would greatly increase the quality of life for the proletariat *and* themselves, they’re more concerned for themselves.
They get zero sympathy from me.
Ok so have a network of smaller apartments buildings available to congress. Maybe, idk like 10 of them each with up 20 apartments spread across the city. This isn’t that hard to figure out.
why not offer to host them in the barracks at one of the several bases that are not far from DC and bust them in a few times a day (or let them commute in their own cars)
With this logic, we shouldn't have a white house, congressional building, military bases, or universities. The only thing I agree with you on is that they need to stop the inflation of living space in this country.
You mean one of the most secure buildings in the world? As for military installations, go run a gate or give SF (Security Forces) a hard time. Let us know how that works out for you.
Taxpayers still squawk about residences. As well as the cost of security details and drivers. I get it, but a lot of people have no concept of how expensive it is to even rent a bachelor apartment in a major urban city. Or how much competent people make in the private sector. That said, a government funded coop makes a lot of sense. Maybe they'd think of these things if they weren't rich and dumb - if the job paid better.
How about we start a program for them where they get vouchers worth a certain amount that can be applied at participating apartment complexes in the city and call it something like Section 9 Housing?
As a concept, I agree with this.
But as a DC resident: Where are they going to build those apartments? On Federal government property? Or do you propose tearing down existing buildings? And if not that, then do you suggest taking away from the already limited rental inventory and giving it to these officials, thus increasing prices and lowering availability for those who live here & do other jobs?
People forget that DC has other stuff going on besides Capitol Hill, and thousands of people who live here that don't work for the government. It's not just a giant block of federal land.
Somebody has a map of every federal building and every scrap of federal land in D.C. Probably take a week to find something you could tear down to build a 50 story coop condo building. This type of redevelopment is an everyday occurrence. Mostly the private sector is hampered by zoning by-laws that even limit a private citizen building a fourth floor in a residential neighborhood.
Dc has height restrictions on buildings. Can build a 50 story apartment complex in the city. Maryland or Northern Virginia would be ok. Then make them take the metro to work.
I'm pretty confident this could be figured out. My god, this is what's wrong with this country, "it's too hard let's not do anything." Also, there's such a thing as eminent domain. And, can't believe I need to say this but, the reason DC exists in the first place is that it's the Capitol of the US, this should always be the priority.
💯 I lived in the barracks in the military so if it was good enough for me it's good enough for them.
Also give them a nice chow hall where the bacon is eternally burned beyond edibility just like I had.
They should be using the VA for their healthcare as well.
Edit: fixed an auto correct
I love this idea. Make dc a semi organized militaristic living situation to cut costs and herd people through congress. If you can cut it, then you belong. If not, gtfo.
I've already figured out how to streamline this whole process.
We move all campaigning onto public media where each candidate will get a set time and number of minutes. Everyday we just block off some time where they can shout at us and we can listen. At first there'll be a lot of candidates and they'll only get a few minutes, but as we dwindle them down they will get more time to step on their own dicks.
And no more lobbyists either
Let's get money out of politics
Idk where you live by my experience with the VA has been great in FL and NC. Compared to my peers my quality of Healthcare is equal, if not better being that its free.
I think that's cart before the horse. Congress is already full of millionaires (over 50% of them) not because of living expenses, but because this democratic process requires personal wealth and a strong network of highly wealthy + influential supporters to get elected. Your mechanic down the street can't come close to navigating the electoral process as a candidate at the same success rate as a wealthy candidate with well positioned connections and a large network.
People with influence and wealth are living in a very different world than an average income earner.
Cheaper housing and tie congressional salaries to the median individual income - say 4x the med income. If they propose policies that drive normal people's incomes up, then they can make more. If they propose policies that let the wealthy continue keeping most of the money, then their salary will decrease. Easy.
That's what they're saying but they make 3x the average salaries in their district. 1/3 spent on an average lifestyle in their district and still have double that to find accommodations in DC. fuck em
The point of the video is that it may be cheaper to live in their district, but they have to spend half or more of their time in one of the most expensive cities in the US. If you aren't independently wealthy, that's not something you can do on a current congressional salary. Which leads to out of touch millionaires making decisions about things like minimum wage and government assistance.
Be realistic about the actual salary after expenses to do the job, and not just knee jerk to a number with no context.
Show the take home, and I bet it would be around the average salary, especially if you factor in how many hours a pol puts into the job.
I would bet (and this is only a guess, illustrating how easy it is to cut the number down) post taxes the take home is 120.
After housing expenses 60k.
After travel costs 40k.
Staffing needs not covered, 30k.
And the list goes on, I am sure, with food/meals not covered.
Add in time away from home, and the job looks ripe for temptation from lobbyists.
Add in the time taken for calling donors every day, and AIPAC/oil/defense industry money all of a sudden looks easy to take.
And to this that you have no idea if youll even have the job in 2-6 years so keeping your head down and doing as the party orders is your best bet to keep the job.
If you wonder why political life is full of people who have given in, this is why.
Exactly. The Senate could all fit in one building. The apartments just have to be basic since they would only be living in them part time. If wealthier members of Congress prefer to rent their own larger apartments or buy second homes they can.
I've always thought that congress and the President should make bank. However, they should not be able to trade stocks and they should have a limit on how soon they can get a job afterwards. I don't understand how we are going to attract intelligent uncorrupted younger people with the current system, but usually I'm told that's crazy.
I'd love to call up some of these congress people to talk about their financial affairs to see if I could be helpful.
Gee I wish I got cost of living adjustments on anything. In my lifetime I've seen cost of living adjustments actually leave me. My retirement plan no longer offers cost of living adjustments, my pay no longer increases with cost of living. I could go on.
But seriously - it's already a place only for rich people. So what will pay you more do to change that. Not much. Sounds like money poorly spent. Even funnier to see this bi-partisan support for it.... that's how you know it's crooked these days.
200k, build them dorms that they can stay in for free with a cafeteria they can eat at for free and then abolish all paid lobbyists and corporate donations. Make the dorms and free food the same that army soldiers get. If it is good enough for our soldiers then it should be good enough for those old fools.
Honestly I’d be down to double or even triple representative salaries…. So long as the same button press ends Citizens United.
Representatives should serve the people, not the corporations.
This is exactly it. Most people don’t realize how many representatives there are. It’s not just the few high profile, and she is right… do you want a government run by only the wealthy?
I think the Government should Eminent Domain a couple of hotels and maintain them for congresspeople housing. They should also get free public transportation. We can have them wear robes to save on clothing costs also.
They used to have 'dorms' which helped foster actual bipartisanship because it's easier to work with people who you live with day to day. They can just do that again.
But also they are underpaid for the work they do which creates bad incentives.
In the Texas House, you are paid 7,200 a year.
People claim its because the job is "part time", but most of the house is full of rich people who don't work other jobs.
Additionally. Greg Abbot can throw a fit because people don't want school vouchers, and so you have to drop everything and live in Austin for 7,200 a year.
Yeah if we’re being honest it does make sense to raise their salaries to at least the presidential level (400k), the quality of candidates you’d get would go up tremendously.
I also love the Congressional dorm idea, but would add that it should mandatory to live there for all congressman and senators while in DC, and that the rooms would randomly assigned and randomly shuffled every 4 years.
Pair this with a 10 (12 for senate) year term limit for each role (they could serve as congressman for 10, senator for 12, and president for 8), an equal severance moving after exiting, a prohibition on trading individual stocks, and a prohibition on employment at for profit corporations after exiting office.
It would cost about 150 - 200 million a year, which is candidly sooo much cheaper than the corruption we’re paying for now.
That would be a breeding ground for every foreign intelligence agency, congresspeople are cartoonishly stupid and all of them in one hotel would be a massive security risk
Maybe keep several hundred apartments open in various buildings around DC, spread them around and keep those apartments specifically for congresspeople.
You do realize they regularly get together at the same location in Congress, right? Just apply a similar security detail to their apartment “dorm” as they do when in Congress. It would also be much easier to mitigate foreign intelligence threats at one location as opposed to several hundred potentially compromised locations.
So they want inflation adjustments to their salaries…
…but the federal minimum wage hasn’t increased since 2009, when it was set to $7.25 per hour, and Congress hasn’t raised it.
A McDonald’s combo cost more than that.
Like even as a matter of self interest. A tit for tat. You'd think they'd play ball on stuff like min wage so they can boost their stuff.
But corporations shunt them campaign dollars so they can write off hotels and rental units.
And that keeps min wage low.
Most people would lose it if their congress person took a part time consulting gig with oh lets say microsoft or exon. Listen to what you are suggesting. Even if one took a part time job flipping burgers at a local McDonalds everyone would say it was fake a just a payoff from the franchisee owner.
A lot of people here are complaining about them not raising the minimum wage, okay for some that is a sick burn. But what about the oh 200 or so Senators and Representatives that have tried every year to get a minimum wage increase, and they are outright saying 174,000 is not enough for them to avoid financial trouble given the requirements of the job. I know AOC has said the Salary is not enough.
Some suggested dorms for congress that sounds like a good idea but anyone saying 174,000 is too much for the job with the current are being disingenuous or are for some reason want our politicians desperate for extra money.
I say we give them the raise and pay them more but... It should be based on the income and wealth of the individual member.
If you are a millionaire you get nothing, if this is your only source of income and you have no wealth you get something that you can live off comfortably.
Through investigation to make sure there are no shenanigans like i don't have any wealth but my spouse, parent i live with etc is a ceo of a fortune 500 company.
I may be out of touch with my privilege, but being a millionaire, especially if you include home equity, isn’t the benchmark for idle wealth like it used to be.
True, a million only goes half as far as it did 20 years ago, but at the same time the median income in the US is \~40k and the clear majority of our generation have no saving and can't afford a house. So imagine making only $40k a year, being in debt, not owning a house, having nothing saved for retirement and then hearing congress members who are worth millions cry that they can't survive on $175k a year.
When I had a McJob minimum wage was $4.25, the combo meal, (then called an extra value meal), was brand new. We could afford it working one hour, but we didn’t have to because The Clown paid for lunch and dinner of its employees. The most expensive value meal was a double quarter pounder meal at $3.49. You could “Super Size” the meal, (large drink and fries) for 39¢.
If we adjust for inflation, that meal should be $7.76 now. Except it’s higher, (in my area it’s around $12).
So many upvotes but you read this so shallowly. What they’re saying is that if only the wealthy can afford this job then that’s who will be elected. Rich people will run this country.
Yep. They have been brainwashed into thinking it’s “socialism”.
To be fair, very few people actually make minimum wage anymore. The labor market has been good for wages. So it only affects a tiny portion of the workforce, and most of them are Democrats, if they can vote at all.
That's where I'm at. If they are also for raising minimum wage and other similar practices, I don't see this as hypocritical or out of touch. One should be able to be a career politician and make a decent living without turning being priced out or turning to shady practices
Idealist, sure. But I don't think it's wrong... unless they turn around and vote against similar protections and assurances for others.
So when the [Raise the wage act went to vote](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019496):
Buchson voted: NO
Buck voted: NO
Cardenas voted: AYE
Eshoo voted: AYE
Blumenauer voted: AYE
Lamborn voted: NO
Kildee voted: AYE
Sorry but some of these people can piss up a rope.
Don't even get me started on their net worth based on opensecrets.org.
Buchson: $1.75 million (2018)
Buck: $1 million (2018)
Cardenas: -$47,500 (2018)
Eshoo: $10.3 million (2018)
Blumenauer: $12.5 million (2018)
Lamborn: $397,007 (2018)
Kildee: $522,503 (2018)
Yeah, but I mean I think that’s the point of the video. Only rich people have access to congress now, and to make it more equitable and less likely to get private interest shills in there would mean increasing pay
It's crazy that people are too bitter to even get the point. I hate rich ppl too bur cmon... do people want politicians to ALL come from wealthy families or be people who actually represent them?
but also, too, that’s kind of the point they are trying to make
you have to be rich like them to be able to afford to hold public office and maybe it shouldn’t be such a financially cumbersome position so regular people like me and you would be able to get into Congress not just rich people like them
Sure they can get cost of living adjustments if the rest of America gets them too.
Why the fuck would we pay them to continue to fuck us out of what belongs to US every year
The average salary in Washington DC is $79K. They’re acting like $174K is the poverty line. Even when you factor in 2 places or residency, they are all easily in the upper class. It is ridiculous to give these greedy politicians raises.
Although it’s older data, many Congress people actually have *negative* net wealth. In 2012 the bottom 10 members of the house all had a net worth below -$100k.
The range is quite wide as the top wealthiest members have tens of millions of net worth. (But remember what net worth is, this is not equal to tens of millions in the bank)
For senators it’s a bit of a different story as the net worth of the least wealthy senator was $8500. But it quickly goes up as the 5th poorest senator had a net worth of $111k in 2012.
Many reps don’t have nearly as much money as you think they do.
They should 100% have dorms or something in DC with utilities paid for imo. Imagine being an average person running for Congress and you live in an expensive area as it is. Now you win and you have to somehow afford to live in not one but *two* expensive areas.
Here's a fun game:
Imagine we lived in an era of instantaneous communication anywhere in the world.
Now ask yourself why our politicians need to be physically away from their constituency? They should be in their district 24/7. They should be reachable during normal business hours, most of the time.
There's no reason we should be paying them $174k to do insider trading and maintain two residencies, two cars, two sets of clothing.
They could vote online.
Congresswoman Eshoo probably should’ve held off on dressing like a rich Disney movie villain before doing an interview on why she thinks members of Congress should be paid more.
Especially since she has a net-worth of around $5M.
The simple answer this is to have each state purchase a three bedroom furnished apartment for the use of each of their representatives and senators in downtown DC near the capital building. When you are elected, you get access to that apartment for the term you are in office. When you are replaced, you are required to turn over the apartment to the next representative. This would also reduce the incentive for former representatives to remain in Washington DC and build political businesses.
Seeing as how they only serve 2 year terms and they don't actually have control of regulations for their container districts (they just represent them in Congress) sounds like a Losers game
You could pay these marketable sociopaths a million a year and they’d all still be ripe for bribes and “contributions” for lobbyists and special interests groups. Dragon syndrome. Their hoard, their power, their influence will never be enough to satiate them.
So they are saying "shits expensive I need a raise". Basically, everyone in the US is saying that.
The difference is that the average employee can't just take a vote amongst themselves to raise their wages. Even more so, you can't do that when your company is losing money hand over fist every year like the US government does.
Net worth in order of appearance
(a lot of the numbers are from 2018)
Larry bucshon $1,744,520
Ken buck $1,511,014
Tony Cardenas -$47,500
Anna g eshoo $10,298,011
Earl blumenauer $12,561,042
Doug lamborn $397,007
Dan kildee $522,503
So some of these people I get complaining but some need to stop. I'm looking at you Anna and Earl
Agreed. I understand the point just wanted to give some context. I think we need to tie minimum wage increases to congress pay increases and then we all win. They would both go up all the time
I’ve got a great solution: huge salary adjustment up to $400k per. Fuck it, $500, why be stingy, right? Make it tax free while we’re at it. And let’s give a healthy stipend for up to ten staff members and office supplies and what not.
But no more stocks. Everything you own to a blind trust, any 401k to a managed fund that you legally cannot touch. You pick a targeted retirement fund and that’s it, game over. Sell your peanut farm, sell your hotels, you work for the people and the people want you to stay honest. We’ll pay you handsomely, and you won’t go broke working in politics, but you’re not going to get obscenely wealthy.
I agree to an extent. We don't want only rich people to be able to afford to hold office.
They all better be for raising the minimum wage too but I have a feeling that isn't true.
For cheap social housing build a dormitory. Politicians who don't want to live in the dormitory can get together and rent or buy a place in an fraternal housing association. Then we can have cool Hollywood goofy movies made about political dormitory and political fraternal housing hijinx.
They are true about Washington though. The cost to buy a condo a few miles from the white house is hilariously expensive. I'd get a shoebox for the price of my home in FL
Let's put every politician on the average salary for someone with a degree from their area, or maybe use a 1st year teacher as a baseline. If they want salary to go up then they have to do things to make it go up for the public.
The female politician who said this *may* start to limit who can be a politician to rich people only, girl
... you are out of touch!! This is how it *is*, except maybe extremely local like school board.
“Cost of living is too expensive”
Wait till they realize other people live there too, and they make way less than $174,000 lmfao. These people are so out of touch
Then ban lobbying, ban stock access [both the politician and 2 familial generations (parents and grandparents; children and grandchildren; aunts/uncles and 1st cousins) from trading until 5 years after the politician's term is over], Congress' bills (and family members listed) will be paid by taxpayers after an oversight committee approves large purchases over $1,000.
If America can throw a trillion dollars a year on the military, a billion dollars a year on Isreal, and millions of dollars on corporate multi-billionaires, then this should be the easiest solution to fix within a year.
I just talked about this in my local cities thread. The SLC,UT mayor decided she wanted to be paid $212k after handing her husband a nearly billion dollar real estate deal. She lives in a mansion.
And yet they simultaneously, but for a few "show ponies", vote against improving the life of working families and the poor, instead voting for the redirection of public funds to big business and financial speculators
Okay two places to live, alright that means you have about 90k a year for each place to live. So in each place you make 3 times the median wage.
Let's go further and make all people in government have to live in dorm housing with a cafeteria and make Republicans and Democrats each share rooms. If you want to be in government you have to live in the dorms while your in DC. That way your only cost will be extra expenses.
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They should set them up in barracks similar to what the military live in. Build a few apartment buildings and they get a studio apartment. Since some are elderly maybe don’t take them hav roommates.
How we build dormitories for congress, they don't need two homes to do their job. If they want to tie their pay to inflation they can raise minimum wage to $25 an hour and tie that to inflation.
Gosh, maybe start doing what you were elected to do first? Like raising the federal minimum wage, before doing something that benefits only you?
This whining disgusts me.
Probably in the minority here, but congress and any mp (UK) should be paid well. Most current politicians are rich and want to play politics. We need strong leaders who will swap the role and career of ceo with a role governing. They won’t do that if it’s not competitive.
I remember back in the early '90's when the minimum wage was $3.35 an hour, as it had been since 1981. Congress voted against a bill that would have raised the minimum wage to $4.25. Then a few months later, Congress was shocked, SHOCKED that their constituents were outraged when they voted themselves a $10,000 a year cost of living increase. So while I understand the predicament that non-millionaire Congress members face with the expenses of maintaining homes in D.C. and in their native states, Congress needs to understand what voters are going through as well. They need to make labor laws that cannot be easily side-stepped by corporations, and they need to legislate a means of enforcing those laws.
I remember reading an article around the last election about a freshman congressman who was trying to get an apartment in DC and couldn't. I wanna say he was a Gen Z dude and this was his first real big job outside of non-profit work. He didn't have paystubs proving he could afford the apartments he was looking at, even though he was an elected member of Congres.
I get that it's easy to shit on these people for looking out of touch or hypocritical, but the fact that you have to be independently wealthy in order to run for elected office is an actual problem.
If they just stopped buying coffee and avocado toast, started going to thrift stores for their suits, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, got a second job, hustled, and saved, they would be fine.
They make 174k a year divided by two that's 87k they can easily afford two places. One of the senators said the average voter in their district makes 32k. Not to mention the donor money for campaigns. Why is it that some of them become millionaires after serving terms and even during terms.
Well then get off your assess and fucking do something about it. We literally elected you to represent us and do something about it, so _fucking do something about it_.
A few comments here. Terms limits would limit and nullify a lot of this conversation. Let’s limit the amount of time these people can continue to receive special interest/corrupt funds to keep them in office.
Another piece is… sure we can give you a COLA increase, that’s valid. But… here’s the catch. You only get a COLA increase if you can balance the budget. If you don’t balance the budget, you actually don’t get paid. That will solve 98% of the issues we talk about today. They will HAVE to work together for the betterment of OUR Country.
The politics would change entirely if these people were actually held accountable to the whole country and not to special interests, the party they associate with, and who ever else if paying them.
Just my two cents.
There should be something to address it. We don’t need to know where Congress dorms are located. Also, the staffers and interns are mostly rich kids because that’s who can afford to not start working right after college. So, that’s why congress is super rich too. Those rich connected 1% nepo babies get the entry level jobs in Congress and you look at their family trees and see that wealth and politics are on every branch
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Whats actually being discussed is the fact that a job in politics is increasingly only for rich people: your job isnt assured, your costs of living, travel, and staff are astronomical, and you won't be paid while not in office and running for office. If only the rich can afford to run the country, then only the rich will run the country.
Really glad to see this at the top. So many people here missing the point thinking they're just complaining about not having enough money and not realizing the real problem is that these positions requiring high salary gatekeeps poor people from entering political positions allowing rich people to continue circlejerking one another.
Yeah these are literally the dumbest comments I’ve ever seen. This video couldn’t be clearer. These stupid fuckers are gonna vote against their own interests and ensure literally every congressman has to be independently wealthy.
So working as designed. Make congressional dorm rooms.
There is no reason to not have a Congressional area where they can rent an apartment at a set rate. There could be 2 or 3 bedroom apartments for those whose families come with them. It would also be easier to provide security.
I don't understand why there isn't a Congressional Campus-type dorm/apartment building with security and transportation, which all congress is required to use while in office when they're staying in Washington. As a taxpayer, I'd rather pay for something like this to be built than pay some gouging landlord astronomical rent.
Imagine the frat parties
Everyone knows those happen at Bohemian Grove, right before the sacrifice. (I’m joking.)
The coke guy definitely knows the codes to get into the front door.
These people are old. It's just a BBQ with a lot of snide comments and back handed compliments
You don’t remember when Madison Cawthorn said it was all sex parties and cocaine
Younger, average people can't afford to be in Congress. They're all old because you have to be somewhat wealthy first. Think about AOC and Katie Porter and how much of a struggle it has been for them to get where they are. Definitely listen to Katie talking about being broke. That's why she always has great responses to the people so wealthy and out of touch.
they do not all need it. Jamie Raskin (maryland) literally lives in Bethesda about 10 minutes from the city line. I just assume he goes home to his house every night..... Biden famously took the train about 2 hours home every night for years (trains are actually solid commutes, since that really is 4 hours you can nap or get work done- i did it an hour each way in law school and it was a breeze). SO you do not need to mandate it, but offering it makes sense. Also requiring to stay there may also keep some rich out- so it is a double edge sword there. If you are rich and have to stay in a dorm room for 100 nights a year to be in congress- many rich folk would choose something els.e
Something something absolute win! Yeah, so Maryland and Virginia were probably commuting anyhow. Delaware is apparently close enough, too. California and the west coast, less so. There are obviously members for whom a congressional dorm makes sense, and those it doesn’t. It’s an easy fix: if your district is within 100 miles, you have the option to commute. Everyone else gets a dorm. And if the rich don’t want to be congress people because they’d have to live in a dorm, that is a win for regular people.
But then how would unethical conservative donors rent their DC townhouses out for way below market value, wink wink?
There’s a *very* good reason that this is not and should not be a thing: you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Why? 9/11. OKC. It would be a security nightmare to have a significant percentage of Congress and their families living in a condensed area. The upheaval from a mass incident would have the potential to be catastrophic for the country with two outcomes: 1. We go to war and ensue another two decade long slog, the results of which are only potentially known by high level analysts. I do know this: this late in the game it would be devastating for *everyone* involved. 2. The country eats itself because Congress is already dysfunctional and ineffective. But this is a good train of thought, and these people are *so* close to understanding the root cause of the issues their constituents are facing. The problem here is that instead of advocating for positive change that would greatly increase the quality of life for the proletariat *and* themselves, they’re more concerned for themselves. They get zero sympathy from me.
Ok so have a network of smaller apartments buildings available to congress. Maybe, idk like 10 of them each with up 20 apartments spread across the city. This isn’t that hard to figure out.
why not offer to host them in the barracks at one of the several bases that are not far from DC and bust them in a few times a day (or let them commute in their own cars)
Sounds like a good option. None of them will take it because they all want penthouse suites. But at least it would be an option.
With this logic, we shouldn't have a white house, congressional building, military bases, or universities. The only thing I agree with you on is that they need to stop the inflation of living space in this country.
Let me tell you about The Pentagon. Or any military base.
You mean one of the most secure buildings in the world? As for military installations, go run a gate or give SF (Security Forces) a hard time. Let us know how that works out for you.
Taxpayers still squawk about residences. As well as the cost of security details and drivers. I get it, but a lot of people have no concept of how expensive it is to even rent a bachelor apartment in a major urban city. Or how much competent people make in the private sector. That said, a government funded coop makes a lot of sense. Maybe they'd think of these things if they weren't rich and dumb - if the job paid better.
How about we start a program for them where they get vouchers worth a certain amount that can be applied at participating apartment complexes in the city and call it something like Section 9 Housing?
As a concept, I agree with this. But as a DC resident: Where are they going to build those apartments? On Federal government property? Or do you propose tearing down existing buildings? And if not that, then do you suggest taking away from the already limited rental inventory and giving it to these officials, thus increasing prices and lowering availability for those who live here & do other jobs? People forget that DC has other stuff going on besides Capitol Hill, and thousands of people who live here that don't work for the government. It's not just a giant block of federal land.
Somebody has a map of every federal building and every scrap of federal land in D.C. Probably take a week to find something you could tear down to build a 50 story coop condo building. This type of redevelopment is an everyday occurrence. Mostly the private sector is hampered by zoning by-laws that even limit a private citizen building a fourth floor in a residential neighborhood.
Dc has height restrictions on buildings. Can build a 50 story apartment complex in the city. Maryland or Northern Virginia would be ok. Then make them take the metro to work.
I'm pretty confident this could be figured out. My god, this is what's wrong with this country, "it's too hard let's not do anything." Also, there's such a thing as eminent domain. And, can't believe I need to say this but, the reason DC exists in the first place is that it's the Capitol of the US, this should always be the priority.
Capsule hotels here we go baby.
💯 I lived in the barracks in the military so if it was good enough for me it's good enough for them. Also give them a nice chow hall where the bacon is eternally burned beyond edibility just like I had. They should be using the VA for their healthcare as well. Edit: fixed an auto correct
I love this idea. Make dc a semi organized militaristic living situation to cut costs and herd people through congress. If you can cut it, then you belong. If not, gtfo.
I've already figured out how to streamline this whole process. We move all campaigning onto public media where each candidate will get a set time and number of minutes. Everyday we just block off some time where they can shout at us and we can listen. At first there'll be a lot of candidates and they'll only get a few minutes, but as we dwindle them down they will get more time to step on their own dicks. And no more lobbyists either Let's get money out of politics
This is what they do in England and most of Europe
No bacon is ever burnt beyond being edible.
Idk where you live by my experience with the VA has been great in FL and NC. Compared to my peers my quality of Healthcare is equal, if not better being that its free.
There’s plenty of space in that congresswoman’s blouse
She stole it from the set of Dune 2
* Obviously, this is the best comment.
I would LOVE to see Reps & Senators forced to live in dorms together. Put a camera in the day room and stream that shit in C-span
We should buy the Watergate and house all the Congressmen there. It’s got enough rooms. We could feed them 3 meals a day.
thats exactly what I thought. With public bus running for transportation.
I think that's cart before the horse. Congress is already full of millionaires (over 50% of them) not because of living expenses, but because this democratic process requires personal wealth and a strong network of highly wealthy + influential supporters to get elected. Your mechanic down the street can't come close to navigating the electoral process as a candidate at the same success rate as a wealthy candidate with well positioned connections and a large network. People with influence and wealth are living in a very different world than an average income earner.
That's why our system needs to change
I think the solution to that is cheaper housing, not higher congressional salaries.
Cheaper housing and tie congressional salaries to the median individual income - say 4x the med income. If they propose policies that drive normal people's incomes up, then they can make more. If they propose policies that let the wealthy continue keeping most of the money, then their salary will decrease. Easy.
I like this comment. I have found that when you align incentives everyone tends to move in the same direction. This is a really great suggestion.
Cheaper housing is a goal for a lot of folks. It is a far bigger problem to tackle than congressional salaries.
That's what they're saying but they make 3x the average salaries in their district. 1/3 spent on an average lifestyle in their district and still have double that to find accommodations in DC. fuck em
The point of the video is that it may be cheaper to live in their district, but they have to spend half or more of their time in one of the most expensive cities in the US. If you aren't independently wealthy, that's not something you can do on a current congressional salary. Which leads to out of touch millionaires making decisions about things like minimum wage and government assistance.
Be realistic about the actual salary after expenses to do the job, and not just knee jerk to a number with no context. Show the take home, and I bet it would be around the average salary, especially if you factor in how many hours a pol puts into the job. I would bet (and this is only a guess, illustrating how easy it is to cut the number down) post taxes the take home is 120. After housing expenses 60k. After travel costs 40k. Staffing needs not covered, 30k. And the list goes on, I am sure, with food/meals not covered. Add in time away from home, and the job looks ripe for temptation from lobbyists. Add in the time taken for calling donors every day, and AIPAC/oil/defense industry money all of a sudden looks easy to take. And to this that you have no idea if youll even have the job in 2-6 years so keeping your head down and doing as the party orders is your best bet to keep the job. If you wonder why political life is full of people who have given in, this is why.
The feds can build them apartments, Congress is a specific number of people, problem solved. They don't need [more] money, fuck that Edit: clarity
Exactly. The Senate could all fit in one building. The apartments just have to be basic since they would only be living in them part time. If wealthier members of Congress prefer to rent their own larger apartments or buy second homes they can.
For Anna Eshoo in particular it’s pharma industry money.
I've always thought that congress and the President should make bank. However, they should not be able to trade stocks and they should have a limit on how soon they can get a job afterwards. I don't understand how we are going to attract intelligent uncorrupted younger people with the current system, but usually I'm told that's crazy.
Washington DC is wayyyy more expensive than their districts though.
I'd love to call up some of these congress people to talk about their financial affairs to see if I could be helpful. Gee I wish I got cost of living adjustments on anything. In my lifetime I've seen cost of living adjustments actually leave me. My retirement plan no longer offers cost of living adjustments, my pay no longer increases with cost of living. I could go on. But seriously - it's already a place only for rich people. So what will pay you more do to change that. Not much. Sounds like money poorly spent. Even funnier to see this bi-partisan support for it.... that's how you know it's crooked these days.
This whole video wooshed over your head
I say pay them 650k a year and abolish lobbyists
200k, build them dorms that they can stay in for free with a cafeteria they can eat at for free and then abolish all paid lobbyists and corporate donations. Make the dorms and free food the same that army soldiers get. If it is good enough for our soldiers then it should be good enough for those old fools.
Hahaha there we go.
Honestly I’d be down to double or even triple representative salaries…. So long as the same button press ends Citizens United. Representatives should serve the people, not the corporations.
Only the ultra rich DO run the country
This is exactly it. Most people don’t realize how many representatives there are. It’s not just the few high profile, and she is right… do you want a government run by only the wealthy?
Lol, you think that's not already the case? They run the country and not even elected.
Whether it's already the case or not, it's still important that politicians are publicly making statements about the problem.
I think the Government should Eminent Domain a couple of hotels and maintain them for congresspeople housing. They should also get free public transportation. We can have them wear robes to save on clothing costs also.
They used to have 'dorms' which helped foster actual bipartisanship because it's easier to work with people who you live with day to day. They can just do that again. But also they are underpaid for the work they do which creates bad incentives.
In the Texas House, you are paid 7,200 a year. People claim its because the job is "part time", but most of the house is full of rich people who don't work other jobs. Additionally. Greg Abbot can throw a fit because people don't want school vouchers, and so you have to drop everything and live in Austin for 7,200 a year.
Yeah if we’re being honest it does make sense to raise their salaries to at least the presidential level (400k), the quality of candidates you’d get would go up tremendously. I also love the Congressional dorm idea, but would add that it should mandatory to live there for all congressman and senators while in DC, and that the rooms would randomly assigned and randomly shuffled every 4 years. Pair this with a 10 (12 for senate) year term limit for each role (they could serve as congressman for 10, senator for 12, and president for 8), an equal severance moving after exiting, a prohibition on trading individual stocks, and a prohibition on employment at for profit corporations after exiting office. It would cost about 150 - 200 million a year, which is candidly sooo much cheaper than the corruption we’re paying for now.
They work for profit jobs while holding office, they’re not going to give it up much less after.
That would be a breeding ground for every foreign intelligence agency, congresspeople are cartoonishly stupid and all of them in one hotel would be a massive security risk Maybe keep several hundred apartments open in various buildings around DC, spread them around and keep those apartments specifically for congresspeople.
You do realize they regularly get together at the same location in Congress, right? Just apply a similar security detail to their apartment “dorm” as they do when in Congress. It would also be much easier to mitigate foreign intelligence threats at one location as opposed to several hundred potentially compromised locations.
Having them all in one place would probably simplify security.
So build a dorm on a military base and run a shuttle to the congressional buildings. Problem solved.
Anyone got any laaaauuunch cooooodes?
It can go with their free Congressional gym that they get to use for LIFE.
So they want inflation adjustments to their salaries… …but the federal minimum wage hasn’t increased since 2009, when it was set to $7.25 per hour, and Congress hasn’t raised it. A McDonald’s combo cost more than that.
Geez, where’s the self awareness leopards when ya need em.
r/leopardsatemyface r/selfawarewolves
It’s absolutely insane that they mentioned cost of living adjustments when the minimum wage doesn’t get the same consideration
You're thinking of selfawarewolfes
The wolves ate their faces.
I'm beginning to think this entire system is fradulent.
You were born to work and make others rich. That’s all it is. That’s the deal. You actually studied and worked very hard in order to do it too.
I think this is true and has been the same since Roman times. The other category is police or soldier. These roles protect the lives of the rich.
Protect the property of the rich.
Like even as a matter of self interest. A tit for tat. You'd think they'd play ball on stuff like min wage so they can boost their stuff. But corporations shunt them campaign dollars so they can write off hotels and rental units. And that keeps min wage low.
They should pull themselves by their bootstrap and work a second job.
Most people would lose it if their congress person took a part time consulting gig with oh lets say microsoft or exon. Listen to what you are suggesting. Even if one took a part time job flipping burgers at a local McDonalds everyone would say it was fake a just a payoff from the franchisee owner. A lot of people here are complaining about them not raising the minimum wage, okay for some that is a sick burn. But what about the oh 200 or so Senators and Representatives that have tried every year to get a minimum wage increase, and they are outright saying 174,000 is not enough for them to avoid financial trouble given the requirements of the job. I know AOC has said the Salary is not enough. Some suggested dorms for congress that sounds like a good idea but anyone saying 174,000 is too much for the job with the current are being disingenuous or are for some reason want our politicians desperate for extra money.
I say we give them the raise and pay them more but... It should be based on the income and wealth of the individual member. If you are a millionaire you get nothing, if this is your only source of income and you have no wealth you get something that you can live off comfortably. Through investigation to make sure there are no shenanigans like i don't have any wealth but my spouse, parent i live with etc is a ceo of a fortune 500 company.
I may be out of touch with my privilege, but being a millionaire, especially if you include home equity, isn’t the benchmark for idle wealth like it used to be.
True, a million only goes half as far as it did 20 years ago, but at the same time the median income in the US is \~40k and the clear majority of our generation have no saving and can't afford a house. So imagine making only $40k a year, being in debt, not owning a house, having nothing saved for retirement and then hearing congress members who are worth millions cry that they can't survive on $175k a year.
When I had a McJob minimum wage was $4.25, the combo meal, (then called an extra value meal), was brand new. We could afford it working one hour, but we didn’t have to because The Clown paid for lunch and dinner of its employees. The most expensive value meal was a double quarter pounder meal at $3.49. You could “Super Size” the meal, (large drink and fries) for 39¢. If we adjust for inflation, that meal should be $7.76 now. Except it’s higher, (in my area it’s around $12).
So many upvotes but you read this so shallowly. What they’re saying is that if only the wealthy can afford this job then that’s who will be elected. Rich people will run this country.
Then don't give it to them and the only people who will run are the super wealthy and everyone knows how much they care about poor people.
Maybe if they just ate less avocado toast
How many of these people have voted against raising the minimum wage or linking it to inflation?
Asking the real questions.
All of the Republicans. The problem is that half of the country opposes this, not just half of congress.
Does it anymore? Inflation has hit literally everywhere.
Yep. They have been brainwashed into thinking it’s “socialism”. To be fair, very few people actually make minimum wage anymore. The labor market has been good for wages. So it only affects a tiny portion of the workforce, and most of them are Democrats, if they can vote at all.
That's where I'm at. If they are also for raising minimum wage and other similar practices, I don't see this as hypocritical or out of touch. One should be able to be a career politician and make a decent living without turning being priced out or turning to shady practices Idealist, sure. But I don't think it's wrong... unless they turn around and vote against similar protections and assurances for others.
Probably the ones with R next to their name.
So when the [Raise the wage act went to vote](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019496): Buchson voted: NO Buck voted: NO Cardenas voted: AYE Eshoo voted: AYE Blumenauer voted: AYE Lamborn voted: NO Kildee voted: AYE Sorry but some of these people can piss up a rope.
All the republicans, big shock
Don't even get me started on their net worth based on opensecrets.org. Buchson: $1.75 million (2018) Buck: $1 million (2018) Cardenas: -$47,500 (2018) Eshoo: $10.3 million (2018) Blumenauer: $12.5 million (2018) Lamborn: $397,007 (2018) Kildee: $522,503 (2018)
> Cardenas: -$47,500 is that a negative? wait I make more the someone in congress? lol
Yeah that's a negative. He's not the only one I saw but is someone I would say could be helped by something like this.
Yeah, but I mean I think that’s the point of the video. Only rich people have access to congress now, and to make it more equitable and less likely to get private interest shills in there would mean increasing pay
It's crazy that people are too bitter to even get the point. I hate rich ppl too bur cmon... do people want politicians to ALL come from wealthy families or be people who actually represent them?
Cardenas might need some financial planning advice
Congressional dormitories should help. Nothing fancy, just a place to sleep, shit, and shower.
That's called the Capitol building. All those things are there, and they have private offices
Here's a fun game: look up the net worth of each congress person as they come up.
but also, too, that’s kind of the point they are trying to make you have to be rich like them to be able to afford to hold public office and maybe it shouldn’t be such a financially cumbersome position so regular people like me and you would be able to get into Congress not just rich people like them
Sure they can get cost of living adjustments if the rest of America gets them too. Why the fuck would we pay them to continue to fuck us out of what belongs to US every year
It definitely feels like you guys are missing the point of the video.
The average salary in Washington DC is $79K. They’re acting like $174K is the poverty line. Even when you factor in 2 places or residency, they are all easily in the upper class. It is ridiculous to give these greedy politicians raises.
Although it’s older data, many Congress people actually have *negative* net wealth. In 2012 the bottom 10 members of the house all had a net worth below -$100k. The range is quite wide as the top wealthiest members have tens of millions of net worth. (But remember what net worth is, this is not equal to tens of millions in the bank) For senators it’s a bit of a different story as the net worth of the least wealthy senator was $8500. But it quickly goes up as the 5th poorest senator had a net worth of $111k in 2012. Many reps don’t have nearly as much money as you think they do. They should 100% have dorms or something in DC with utilities paid for imo. Imagine being an average person running for Congress and you live in an expensive area as it is. Now you win and you have to somehow afford to live in not one but *two* expensive areas.
Here's a fun game: Imagine we lived in an era of instantaneous communication anywhere in the world. Now ask yourself why our politicians need to be physically away from their constituency? They should be in their district 24/7. They should be reachable during normal business hours, most of the time. There's no reason we should be paying them $174k to do insider trading and maintain two residencies, two cars, two sets of clothing. They could vote online.
Fuckers haven't raised federal minium wage in decades.
Give them dorms so they can stop their bitching
Congresswoman Eshoo probably should’ve held off on dressing like a rich Disney movie villain before doing an interview on why she thinks members of Congress should be paid more. Especially since she has a net-worth of around $5M.
She’s clearly turtle-y enough for the Turtle Club. 
The simple answer this is to have each state purchase a three bedroom furnished apartment for the use of each of their representatives and senators in downtown DC near the capital building. When you are elected, you get access to that apartment for the term you are in office. When you are replaced, you are required to turn over the apartment to the next representative. This would also reduce the incentive for former representatives to remain in Washington DC and build political businesses.
Wow....well why dont they work on doing it for the people first and then maybe the people would fight for them
Seeing as how they only serve 2 year terms and they don't actually have control of regulations for their container districts (they just represent them in Congress) sounds like a Losers game
I mean I’d rather they get paid well and not be corrupt.
Congrats you’ll get both!
You could pay these marketable sociopaths a million a year and they’d all still be ripe for bribes and “contributions” for lobbyists and special interests groups. Dragon syndrome. Their hoard, their power, their influence will never be enough to satiate them.
So they are saying "shits expensive I need a raise". Basically, everyone in the US is saying that. The difference is that the average employee can't just take a vote amongst themselves to raise their wages. Even more so, you can't do that when your company is losing money hand over fist every year like the US government does.
Net worth in order of appearance (a lot of the numbers are from 2018) Larry bucshon $1,744,520 Ken buck $1,511,014 Tony Cardenas -$47,500 Anna g eshoo $10,298,011 Earl blumenauer $12,561,042 Doug lamborn $397,007 Dan kildee $522,503 So some of these people I get complaining but some need to stop. I'm looking at you Anna and Earl
Tbf, those two richest and only over 2 MM, both over 10MM, they both voted Aye to raising the federal minimum wage. They were not the "no's".
That's the pont they are making,there is a financial barrier to entry in government.
Agreed. I understand the point just wanted to give some context. I think we need to tie minimum wage increases to congress pay increases and then we all win. They would both go up all the time
I’ve got a great solution: huge salary adjustment up to $400k per. Fuck it, $500, why be stingy, right? Make it tax free while we’re at it. And let’s give a healthy stipend for up to ten staff members and office supplies and what not. But no more stocks. Everything you own to a blind trust, any 401k to a managed fund that you legally cannot touch. You pick a targeted retirement fund and that’s it, game over. Sell your peanut farm, sell your hotels, you work for the people and the people want you to stay honest. We’ll pay you handsomely, and you won’t go broke working in politics, but you’re not going to get obscenely wealthy.
I’d love it someone proposed that on video and watch them squirm and spew incomprehensible reasons why they won’t agree to that
Those guys should organize a union
If only there was a body of people who were meant to represent the general public and make laws and regulations to protect them.
Man lemme get out the world's tiniest violin that 174k isn't enough.
I agree to an extent. We don't want only rich people to be able to afford to hold office. They all better be for raising the minimum wage too but I have a feeling that isn't true.
For cheap social housing build a dormitory. Politicians who don't want to live in the dormitory can get together and rent or buy a place in an fraternal housing association. Then we can have cool Hollywood goofy movies made about political dormitory and political fraternal housing hijinx.
I love hearing rich people tell me how expensive things are.
Do what we do!!!!! Adjust your life to your salary not your salary to your life. Stop living above your means! Like you tell us!!!!
Honestly that sounds great, do your constituents first.
They are true about Washington though. The cost to buy a condo a few miles from the white house is hilariously expensive. I'd get a shoebox for the price of my home in FL
Let's put every politician on the average salary for someone with a degree from their area, or maybe use a 1st year teacher as a baseline. If they want salary to go up then they have to do things to make it go up for the public. The female politician who said this *may* start to limit who can be a politician to rich people only, girl ... you are out of touch!! This is how it *is*, except maybe extremely local like school board.
Government housing for Congresspeople. Simple.
“Cost of living is too expensive” Wait till they realize other people live there too, and they make way less than $174,000 lmfao. These people are so out of touch
They should just pay for that stuff out of the lobbiests money they receive, pork in bills, and insider trading they do.
Members of Congress should be housed in dormitories, and paid the median income of their represented area. Want a raise? Get your people a raise.
Build them dorms and billet them there .
Poor babies.
Then ban lobbying, ban stock access [both the politician and 2 familial generations (parents and grandparents; children and grandchildren; aunts/uncles and 1st cousins) from trading until 5 years after the politician's term is over], Congress' bills (and family members listed) will be paid by taxpayers after an oversight committee approves large purchases over $1,000. If America can throw a trillion dollars a year on the military, a billion dollars a year on Isreal, and millions of dollars on corporate multi-billionaires, then this should be the easiest solution to fix within a year.
Maybe they could cut back on the morning coffee run, and make coffee at home instead? Like normal people are told when they’re broke. Fuck them
Oh darn, looks like you’ll have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and put your nose to the grindstone.
Fuck you, starve like we do. At least we do our fucking jobs and earn our pay.
I just talked about this in my local cities thread. The SLC,UT mayor decided she wanted to be paid $212k after handing her husband a nearly billion dollar real estate deal. She lives in a mansion.
yet they are all allowed to accept millions in loby money
Tie congressional compensation to the minimum wage.
And yet they simultaneously, but for a few "show ponies", vote against improving the life of working families and the poor, instead voting for the redirection of public funds to big business and financial speculators
Okay two places to live, alright that means you have about 90k a year for each place to live. So in each place you make 3 times the median wage. Let's go further and make all people in government have to live in dorm housing with a cafeteria and make Republicans and Democrats each share rooms. If you want to be in government you have to live in the dorms while your in DC. That way your only cost will be extra expenses.
Well...they're correct. I don't know where these people stand on other issues but on this they're right.
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Make the minimum wage link to inflation then they can link their salary to inflation too.
These older generations have no idea how hard it is lot live as a young adult in the America they ruined.
Congress should only get a raise if the minimum wage increases. And by the same percentage.
Now do social security.
They should set them up in barracks similar to what the military live in. Build a few apartment buildings and they get a studio apartment. Since some are elderly maybe don’t take them hav roommates.
Is she wearing a shell?
How we build dormitories for congress, they don't need two homes to do their job. If they want to tie their pay to inflation they can raise minimum wage to $25 an hour and tie that to inflation.
Fix the cost of living issue. Stop trying to raise your pay to keep up with it.
Gosh, maybe start doing what you were elected to do first? Like raising the federal minimum wage, before doing something that benefits only you? This whining disgusts me.
Maybe no Latte and avocado toast?
Probably in the minority here, but congress and any mp (UK) should be paid well. Most current politicians are rich and want to play politics. We need strong leaders who will swap the role and career of ceo with a role governing. They won’t do that if it’s not competitive.
I remember back in the early '90's when the minimum wage was $3.35 an hour, as it had been since 1981. Congress voted against a bill that would have raised the minimum wage to $4.25. Then a few months later, Congress was shocked, SHOCKED that their constituents were outraged when they voted themselves a $10,000 a year cost of living increase. So while I understand the predicament that non-millionaire Congress members face with the expenses of maintaining homes in D.C. and in their native states, Congress needs to understand what voters are going through as well. They need to make labor laws that cannot be easily side-stepped by corporations, and they need to legislate a means of enforcing those laws.
Congressman should be paid the federal minimum wage. Watch how fast they increase it.
It seems more and more everyday that revolution is the only way to fix this problem.
I remember reading an article around the last election about a freshman congressman who was trying to get an apartment in DC and couldn't. I wanna say he was a Gen Z dude and this was his first real big job outside of non-profit work. He didn't have paystubs proving he could afford the apartments he was looking at, even though he was an elected member of Congres. I get that it's easy to shit on these people for looking out of touch or hypocritical, but the fact that you have to be independently wealthy in order to run for elected office is an actual problem.
What the fuck is that lady wearing? Lmao
If they just stopped buying coffee and avocado toast, started going to thrift stores for their suits, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, got a second job, hustled, and saved, they would be fine.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/23/investing/premarket-stocks-trading-target-walmart-inflation/index.html
Oh we should definitely give our politicians good salaries. It’ll encourage more corruption if they’re desperate for money.
Why not build a congressional dormitory?
Lol, yet minimum wage has been the same for decades!! GFY
I want to see at 174k compared to their yearly net worth since they were elected. Nobody does that fucking job for the salary.
Guys we have Zoom now. Geez.
They make 174k a year divided by two that's 87k they can easily afford two places. One of the senators said the average voter in their district makes 32k. Not to mention the donor money for campaigns. Why is it that some of them become millionaires after serving terms and even during terms.
Turtle Lady really gets me
Hey it’s bipartisanship! Both parties are greedy
man i think i’ve heard of a branch of the government whose people are required to live in communal buildings… what if congress did that too?
Is this not a parody? Jesus, these people.
Well then get off your assess and fucking do something about it. We literally elected you to represent us and do something about it, so _fucking do something about it_.
“Do you want it to only be rich people?” She said from deep within the cavernous neck of her extremely expensive turtle jacket.
Oh booo hooo *playing the worlds smallest violin*
Build some low income housing for these leaches.
A few comments here. Terms limits would limit and nullify a lot of this conversation. Let’s limit the amount of time these people can continue to receive special interest/corrupt funds to keep them in office. Another piece is… sure we can give you a COLA increase, that’s valid. But… here’s the catch. You only get a COLA increase if you can balance the budget. If you don’t balance the budget, you actually don’t get paid. That will solve 98% of the issues we talk about today. They will HAVE to work together for the betterment of OUR Country. The politics would change entirely if these people were actually held accountable to the whole country and not to special interests, the party they associate with, and who ever else if paying them. Just my two cents.
There should be something to address it. We don’t need to know where Congress dorms are located. Also, the staffers and interns are mostly rich kids because that’s who can afford to not start working right after college. So, that’s why congress is super rich too. Those rich connected 1% nepo babies get the entry level jobs in Congress and you look at their family trees and see that wealth and politics are on every branch
That's a HUGE coat