Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Brother, can you spare a dime ?


When we all saw this image, did we really think that anything had been accomplished ? Could it be that more had been accomplished than meets the eye ? What about the cost of war ? The death and destruction are an obvious cost, and it seems it brings very little in return. What about the image we give to other countries ? It has cost us credibility and respect. But what has it cost us ? What has it cost me, a guy who works to support a family, and keep a roof over our head, and have food to eat ? We are now facing a $482 billion dollar deficit in 2009, and that number does not include the billions in Iraq war funding. Guess who this deficit bill will be sent to ? Our next president ? No, all of us. I don't know about the rest of you, but I aint got it. McCain and Obama still promise to cut taxes, but how ? The Bush tax cuts that were enacted in 2001 and 2003 will end in 2010. These cuts cost the government about $200 billion a year. What is the greatest accomplishment for Bush ? What was his mission ? To destroy our economy ? This deficit did not start with Bush, and the war, although is adding to the deficit, did not bring us to where we are today. A deficit has existed for many years. What can we do ? Have the words " balanced budget " become a dirty word in Washington ? I propose a solution. Pay cuts. Not for us, but for government. Our president makes $400,000 a year, and the VP pulls in $221,100. I think that is insane. Let's change the salaries of both of them to around $50,000 a year. They can live on that, most of us live on less. The senate majority and minority leaders make about $188,100 a year, and the speaker of the house makes $217,400 a year. These people cost us $ 1,214,700 a year ! Is that much necessary ? I say NO ! Let's bring them down to around $50,000 a year. Will this help our economy ? Maybe a little, but maybe the lower pay will make these people think before they spend our money. Maybe it will drive them away from their posts to pursue more lucrative jobs elswhere. Maybe then, someone who knows what it means to live within a budget, someone who knows the worth of a human life, someone who has actually had to buy a gallon of gas, a loaf of bread, or pay an ever rising power bill, will say no to the waste and overspending that happens every day in DC. HEY GW ! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ? YEAH, RIGHT

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree, why are we paying these people so much money when all they do is decide our countries fate? F*ck them, pay me $50k a year and I will wear a suit and go sit in a building all day and raise my hand to say yea or nah.

Da Old Man said...

Their salaries aren't the half of it.
The day a person gets elected to Congress, he or she is allowed to send reports back home. These are little more than campaigning devices for the next election. Why else do you think they get entrenched in office? And, it's on our dime.
You should see their retirement package.
It dwarfs what they get paid while serving, and that doesn't include the millions they get from speaking engagements, book deals, and just basically hanging around and telling everyone how wonderful they are.
Not everyone who enters Congress is a millionaire, but nearly every one is after leaving. I wonder how that happens. Their salary doesn't explain that.