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They should also have to use the VA for health insurance
Just make inside trading and taking corporate and foreign Pac bribes illegal for them.
Currently these two rules alone are why they rig laws for corportations and big pharma and insurance and oil companies, weapon manufaturers, banks, israel… they work for everyone but the citizens… And that some fucking how is legal and practiced in the open by both Democrats and Conservatives alikeThis is where the real money is, and this is the real source of corruption; their salary is not the problem. In fact, I think the salary should be high enough that normal people will still be interested in the difficult and ugly game of politics. I wouldn’t run for office for less money than I make at my job - I have bills to pay.
I think they should be barred altogether from making stock trades while in office. Maybe their portfolios could go into a blind trusts (or index funds or something) so that they cannot make insider trades. Likewise for their partners and close family.
Manipulating the stock market is the principal motivation behind Trump’s trade and foreign policy. The same can probably be said about many Democrat and Republican congresspeople. Allowing this obscenity is the single greatest weakness of the American political system.
I have a solution. Come up with actual Qol metrics for the average American, check them every 3 months, if they go down a congressman is selected at random for execution.
I like it, but there is a hitch. With climate change, mean QoL is going to fall for the rest of our lives. We can mitigate the suffering and redistribute resources to make things equitable, but the best we can realistically do is improve median QoL.
Yeah, I left it vague because I’m certainly not qualified to determine what that should be.
Ughhhh what? Again I hate to hate on people who did good in life. You gotta step up your game and find a profession that can earn you above that wage as well as pay off the student loan which if you don’t choose the minimal w/the longest time to pay it off, with a ridiculous apr, so you won’t be trapped in a financial hole.
But I think that 280k$/yr should be the max anyone can potentially earn and I think you should have to pay 2% more overall in taxes per year on everything city, state and federal once you make over 120k$. For example your excise tax, city water bills and even phone bills would be 2% more.
Not groceries and clothes/general retail. so like credit card bills, Spotify, Netflix wouldn’t be more in taxes. Phones are needed in today’s society, like you can’t do a lot without it. So it would be extra in taxes.
I think you should have to pay 2% more overall in taxes per year on everything city, state and federal once you make over 120k$
Yep, the US Federal income tax (and many states’ income taxes) are already a progressive tax that separate income into brackets and taxes each bracket at an increasing rate. It’s definitely time to increase that top marginal rate and add a bunch of exclusions that rich people use to hide their money in capital gains.
Nah. Get rid of the numbers. No money, no problem, amirite? Just make willpower and do what you do best! That’s the supererogatory of self. Old men plant trees they don’t ever see the shade of, y’know? Simple shit to restructure your reality around, if you cared. Karma, as we call it. The entanglement process. Oooh, I’m horny already…
Nahhh, I’m not for total get rid of everything but a restructuring of society couldn’t hurt… The common man, 😉
It’ll ruin the superduper rich but the common man would love a societal restructuring.
I want to have sex for not just the healing potential I offer, but there’s the fun of it, I think, but I just want to help people bro! Why’s it so hard to get a job at the FBI? Why is there not an application in my mailbox, you fucking retards. You ain’t recruiting nearly as smartly as you think you be, but you is, cuz you are, and that is what I’m gunna find out once I become an uncertain size that y’all can’t ain’t not see. So fuck off, will ya, I got about a hundred house calls a night you slimy ass gretchins in the digital rotundosphere be thundering up my ass, thanks ya bridgly that I ain’t gotta stank them True Captain shit’s righteousness’ rightly, so I undercurth, and will just do random shit henceforth. Goodnight Mr Plierman…
You can always ask chatgpt how to create a career path for you. Other than that, I wouldn’t know the answer to any of your questions and/or psychotic ramblings. I’m wicked sorry I’m not of help. I see stuff for FBI Agents on Indeed all the time, I’m sure if you apply and stuff you might get far, idk.
Bro, you’re the one that don’t know because you never engage to equate yourself with me. That is a weird piece of the puzzle, y’know? Empathy? I personally believe it is self-evident that I am a skilled communicator in text, which requires a degree of empathy, as all that ish be is your ability to see around your “self,” y’know, maneuver the lakitu bro of the “I” observing itself, like biting your own teeth, grinding into it (there is something interconnected with ear-rumbling, I must openly acknowledge for benefit to the coffers insuite. But it’s just seeing back into itself. Like, I can’t drive. I cannot, for the life of me, pilot a motorized vehicle, but I can errorcify your new self with some brittle ironcane flanges if you wish to…level up…yes? Go Thundercats!
You gotta step up your game and find a profession that can earn you above that wage
Above median salary? What about the fact that, by definition, 50% of people won’t be able to do that?
Okay, okay, so wages rise over time, and eventually 99% of people are making above 66k… but then the new median will be, like, 150k, and everything in society will be priced accordingly, and some other person will have the great advice that “You gotta step up your game and find a profession that can earn you above that wage” again ignoring the fact that, by definition, 50% of people cannot do that.
No. The solution is not to tell people to work harder, or just find a better job. You want a society where people clean the rooms in hotels, right? What would happen if all cleaning staff took your advice?
At the bare minimum for this conversation, we should ensure that people making median income have a good quality of life. At the bare minimum for an ethical society, wages would not be the metric that determines whether someone deserves a good quality of life.
Ever think that the 50% that can do it, should while they can before that kind of hyper inflation happens and like maybe boost the morale with advice on how not to trap yourself in a predatory ass loan or give a list of things you did to achieve your goals that got you into a position where you feel financially comfortable.
I mean shit I’m on food stamps but I found a goal that’s gonna make bank in less than 2 years plus I can pay it off in 2 years on a payment plan. I’m gonna be making six figures in less than 5 years. I am more than happy. I’m stepping up my fucking game.
Ever think that the 50% that can do it, should…
Fair enough; also by definition, 50% of people make more than the median. Good for them.
I’m saying that, by definition, no matter where the median salary is, 50% of people will make less than that. Individual choice can change who makes less than that… but still, 50% of the population will make less than that.
hyper inflation
Well, not necessarily. I didn’t specify a period of time. In the past 30 years, nominal wages have grown 150%. So if, in the next 30 years, nominal wages grow 150%, we hit the numbers that I gave.
I’m on food stamps
gonna make bank in less than 2 years
gonna be making six figures
Right, so at this time, you are among the 50% of people who make below median salary. I admire your confidence, but… what if it doesn’t work out? There’s a small chance you get into a car accident and your plan gets thrown off. There’s a small chance you have a medical emergency. There’s a small chance your house catches fire.
Success is not guaranteed just because you work hard. There’s a chance you make below median salary for the rest of your life. It is MY opinion that it doesn’t matter why you’re making below median salary; you still deserve a life that doesn’t involve making a choice between paying a medical bill or paying rent.
Success is not guaranteed just because you work hard. you still deserve a life that doesn’t involve making a choice between paying a medical bill or paying rent.
No I agree but that seems like there needs to be a restructuring of the medical system and the insurance system.
Section 8 needs to be reevaluated so those that don’t really need it and are taking advantage can get the fuck off of it and those that need it can get the fuck on it. Section 8 is Severely Lowered Rent making it so that you can pay your bills.
Success being a non guarantee means that neither does having stability, you’re not 100% guaranted that you will be able to pay your medical bills and buy groceries, that’s based off of your personal success and financial gains, as well as being able to successfuy balance your budget (meaning seeing extra money and putting in the bank, not on a new product) That’s just the cruel reality of living anywhere on this planet, not just in capitalism or the US.
that seems like there needs to be a restructuring
Who would be in charge of doing that? Would it be Congress? What incentives do they have to do this restructuring?
The proposal is that Congress be paid the median salary so that it is clear which things need to be restructured and why. If they want better living conditions, they would need to pass policies which improve the material conditions of a typical citizen.
you’re not 100% guaranted that you will be able to pay your medical bills and buy groceries… That’s just the cruel reality of living anywhere on this planet
We’re talking about median income. You said that the solution was to make more than median income. Are you now saying that you are willing to tolerate these conditions for 50% of people? I don’t like the idea of anyone being unable to afford rent or groceries or healthcare, but I would at least kind of understand if you were willing to tolerate 1% of people suffering. But 50%?
The point being made is that if 50% of people are struggling, something is wrong. It means a failure of governance. It’s the kind of mistake that can only be made by a Congress who makes 3 times the median income, and is populated almost entirely by people with rich parents, who have never ever struggled. It’s the kind of mistake that would not be made by a Congress that makes median income.
It’s the kind of mistake that would not be made by a Congress that makes median income.
So they’re making a shit load of money and ain’t doing shit but if they make less that’ll suddenly inspire them to do a better job… Where is the common sense there?
Also, I don’t like volatility in the job market, if they’re making that much they must’ve worked hard enough to get there… unless it’s just purely nepotism then they can go fuck themselves. Maybe looking into ending government corruption little by little could end up with people who are worth their position, rather than people who suck at what they do and get paid a fuck load.
I will amend what I said to say, I mean for the common man, if you’re struggling and have the ability to be able to get into a position in life where you can make more than the median, than you should attempt it.
The solution is obviously deflate the economy a little bit while lowering federal interest rates so people who are making the median or a little more than the median can buy homes and afford medical bills and groceries at the same time
if they make less that’ll suddenly inspire them to do a better job… Where is the common sense there?
If you were a house builder, but you could only live in the typical houses that you’ve built… would that inspire you to do a good job?
If a person’s job is public policy and legislation… but they have to live under typical living conditions for the citizenry… do you think that would be any different than a builder who has to live in the houses they build?
The solution is obviously
No intellectually honest thought starts with this.
Sounds good on paper, until you notice this means… only the wealthy would ever bother running for office.
I’m sure many low wage workers would jump at the chance to actually make a difference.
Why do we think only people who have become career politicians should be politicians? They’re the last people who should do it.
A room of 600 plumbers, nurses, and bin men would make far better decisions than them.
Yes, but in that case adopting Sortition and abolishing career politicians makes way more sense.
That’s the theory behind pensions for most public offices and the police. To remove the temptation for corruption in office… not that it works
That’s true already
But then we wouldn’t get “the best people”. /s
Early retirement, absolutely.
With regards to politicians wages, I think they should be commensurate with the responsibilities of the job. But they should have no other means of income during their term, and potentially for a period afterwards. There would need to be much more stringent auditing and enforcement to ensure this.
Politicians engaging I’m outside employment seems crazy to me, and is clearly a route to corruption.
Better yet, bring back the ancient Greek lottery for state office.
Yes, but a competency test is essential. 50% of the population are below average intelligence.
I don’t think so. That just creates another way to gatekeep, and that can be corrupted. I’d rather focus on improving education in the first place.
Sounds like an improvement over the current US congress already.
I think most countries would benefit from a competency test for public office, maybe even a morality assessment…
The more serious answer to that is that someone then needs to decide what “competent” means. Should a human rights activist be disqualified from office if they’re terrible at math?
Morality tests are even harder to make apolitically. It’s another avenue of attack that could be used maliciously.
I agree with an earlier retirement, but I’m conflicted about the regular wage part.
If gov members work for a “regular” wage, then what would be their incentive in public service vs other jobs. Or what’s stopping them from working a regular wage and then side hustle as the billionaires’ lap dog (not that different now tbh). Good will?
Good will seems to work for teachers and nurses. Problem is more money would likely come from other sources (bribes, lobbying, that sort of thing)
In that case, I suspect it’s just a law enforcement issue. By which I mean, what would happen to a nurse or a doctor who ignored triage and took personal bribes to ensure certain people receive help first, while leaving other people who need more urgent help to die? That’s what should be happening to politicians too IMO.
Yeah. Like why would I work for a shit paying but powerful job, unless I have some ulterior motives. Good Samaritans exist but they’re a dime a dozen.
What I’m saying is there are tonnea of people who work hard for low pay everyday (ex. teachers and nurses).
Being in a position of power however would likely corrupt them (or maybe attract corrupt people)
And a wealth cap. If you have 20 million networth but want to give it all up save under 200k (current median networth) to be a public servant then by all means. They made Jimmy Carter give up his peanut farm, which was the right thing, we should do the same for politicians today.
If members of Congress earn the average or median wage, that will ensure that only the rich can actually hold that position. Very, very few non-rich people would take that risk.
And it will only encourage lobbying, insider trader, and every other corrupt money making bullshit they still do with what they earn.
tell that to the silent generation and boomers in congress, mitch, chuck greasley, chuck schumer,etc.
MEDIAN wage. No rich to skew things.
And no money from lobbyists, no insider trading and no ability to award contracts to private entities
Nah. They rich because they’re ultra smart. How else do they consistently beat the S&P500? /s
My thoughts on that was they got paid the average pay for the state the live in. Down here in the south they would have to get food stamps.
