How can the people take back control of politicians salaries and benefits?

Answer 1

Make politician's salaries equal to the mean income of the housholds in their districts...

Answer 2

Term limits

Answer 3

What kind of ingrateful question is this? Does it ever occur to you what they are up against? Imagine that you are the most popular person in your state (or nation). THE most popular person; and, the reward is a public position to represent the state or nation and the peoples thereof. Ain't life grand?! Let's take this and divide in accordance to the positions specific.

State: Well, you could be the governor of a state with budgetary instability based upon an economy that the federally elected persons affected in such a way to afford assistance to other parts of the world (beyond the nation in which the state exists) that there has been a loss of income due to companies (some with executive positions that pay much more than you earn as the most popular and thus important person in that state) leaving the state and taking their state income tax revenues with them.

You could have people from all the social stratas showing up and wanting to test you for your ability to 'connect with them ... now that you've been elected'. You want to serve a second term and so fund raising is a necessary part of 'what it is that you must do'. It is expected of you. The party with whose help you were elected...will not excuse you from attempting another term. Those who voted for you..expect it of you. To be quite honest, it really does not compensate for the amount of stress endured whilst performing the other duties of office. Three years and the senate nor house of representatives have brought forth bills to be heard and voted on ... that was on your list of differences during your administration requested from the get-go. They have others in front of them...they say. They cannot just pull up the one's recommended by you...they say. The truth of the matter is that they have their own re-elections to plan and finance. As well as, visits from people from all social stratas who seem to be testing them for their ability to 'connect with them...now that they are elected'. It would be rude to be inconsiderate. It could be a costly error in judgement to make any notice of any flaws that they may have 'dangling' in the critical eyes that abound at work. They have lunch with powerful people (or someone whom was asked to take their place since the actual person was unable to attend due to unexpected happenstances that had to be addressed for the company). During this awkward lunch, they must listen to people who have special interests; they must try to anticipate what to say to help them feel a sense of security of having been heard; and, they must also remember to chew and swallow whatever this is (peculiar looking glop) without breaking into a sweat or wearing any of it on their highly polished smiling tools.

After lunch they arrive back at their office unless they MUST be somewhere else such as Session, their desk that was clean and tidy before lunch ... now has a myriad of folders, pink action notes, a few post-it notes on the telephone and computer screen, and an anxious page (that is a person who assists them) who states that someone was here earlier and threatened to sue the government due to his or her absence from office and premises. You thank them for the warning...quote someone who once said, forewarned...forearmed. Several messages wait in the computer for a response. These are usually read or opened and responded to quickly or disregarded. The manilla folders hold proposed legislation that must be considered for signature or passage without it ... if strong enough to meet requirements of law. You call your trusted (knows everything) people into the office. It was unexpected for most and thus resented slightly although they remember to be appreciative for their positions, their titles, and the office in which you work. When asked about the contents of the folders...one is quicker than the others to speak strongly about the position that you should take on the matters at hand. The others (who did not get the first word in first) remain silent throughout the "meeting". Time is at hand. You have two personal appointments scheduled this afternoon, one of which must be cancelled due to over familiarity with that person and although it may have been a great opportunity to build the war chest....the other appointment has never scheduled one before and it could be something that they could work toward instigating for the benefit of quite a few influencial persons. It seems that the stack of folders represent what is known in the industry (political industry) as a media opportunity to call a press conference for a word or two about the significance of the legislation that you are to put your name to.

Nation: All of the above plus the ability to appoint people to new positions (as they deem themselves worthy and entitled to) with the added twist that most of the visitors are nobility from other continents who CANNOT be waived off the schedule.

Which salary and or benefits are you specifically concerned about?

Answer 4

Why not take away their liberties, calling it "The Patriots Act", and forcibly do it, like they do!

Answer 5

By firing them. www.votetoimpeach.com

Answer 6

They can't.