I wonder why our president, vice president and on down the line are making so much money. I wonder who would run for president if there were no pay and done strictly as "a duty" to your country. With the saved dollars from paying politicians, how would that impact the homeless and lower income families in the country?
Why are pay increases not voted on? Government officials work for the American people! Why are we not allowed more control than the voting of more officials into a corrupt Washington?
2007-01-31 04:52:29 · 4 answers · asked by Susan M 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The problem is the congress votes on pay increases for elected officials in the federal government. The only thing you can do is write your congressman, but you'll see how far that gets you if you've ever tried. President Bush was already extremely wealthy before he was President, so I think he's in it for the power, rather than the money.
"Both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, the current U.S. president and vice president, are very wealthy. In 1989, Bush invested $600,000 to become part owner of the Texas Rangers major league baseball team. When the team was sold in 1998, Bush earned at least $14.9 million from the deal, according to CNN. As the governor of Texas, Bush earned $115,345 annually. Dick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton, an oil engineering company, from 1995 to 2000. In 2004 he recieved $194,852 in deferred compensation from Halliburton. His net worth is estimated to be at least $30 million, and in 2004 he reported $1.3 million in total income, compared to Bush's $672,788."
2007-01-31 05:08:13 · answer #1 · answered by winstonbad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the presidents salary isn't as much as you think. Bush and Cheney were rich prior to stealing the positions.
Congress votes on their own raises (must be nice!)
The US government would never give the people that much power.
2007-01-31 13:09:36 · answer #2 · answered by Christy W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Politicians should not make money. But, you'd then have a major problem with graft. Also, only the wealthy would be politicians, and we don't want that either.
Only answer? Get rid of greed and wealth in this country!
2007-01-31 12:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YOU DON'T BECOME A POLITICIAN TO MAKE MONEY . THE PAY IS NOT THAT GREAT.
THE PRESIDENT MAKES 400K PER YEAR AND THE VICE PRESIDENT MAKES 202,900 PER YEAR.. HOUSE AND SENATE 162,500 PER YEAR, IN THIS LAND OF BILLIONAIRES THAT IS NOT ALLOT OF MONEY.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG WOULD DO THE JOB FOR FREE. HE'S A BILLIONAIRE AND HE IS THE BEST MAYOR MY CITY HAS EVER SEEN.
MOST POLITICIANS MAKE THEIR MONEY ON SIDE DEALS THE ACTUAL PAY IS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
2007-01-31 13:03:36 · answer #4 · answered by strike_eagle29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋