Why are soldiers paid so little to put their life on the line, as politicians are paid so much in comparison?

Question

Worthless Recruit (below) Politicians are also public "servants". Your point is moot.

ya_staff and PNAC (below) Something's wrong. We agree. Rod Serling must be nearby.

Answer 1

It doesn't make sense, but then very little in Washington does.
Soldiers deserve so much more than what they're getting. The importance between the two jobs is not even comparable. Soldiers are so much more important to the security and well-being of this country than some crusty old, career politician in D.C. is. Yet, those self-serving, all important parasites don't quite see it that way. Go figure.

Answer 2

Most politicians are corrupt. Power corrupts absolutely. A soldier has limited power and no access to money other than that he is paid by his superiors.
Politicians have their hands in the honey pot at all time. Their whole lives revolve around money, greed, and power.
Very Very few politicians are honest.... if any at all.
A soldiers ambition is to defend his country while making enough money to support those he lovs just like the rest of working Americans. Maybe he or she even wants to acquire a skill while doing so... or get some money for college.
In summation, a soldier's proffession is an honorable one.
A politician, is a leach on society, a germ. They have their own self interests in mind in a great majority of situations no matter what their political affiliation.

Answer 3

This is my first answer on this side of the yahoo, the government controls their own pay. Need a raise? lets vote on it! Same with their health plan, need full coverage? lets vote on it! That was taken of the ballets many years ago, allowing voters to determine if they got an increase in their pay or not. They need to be accountable for the salaries and their actions just like the working class is to their employers.
No matter how much you do at your job you can't vote yourself a raise! Now for our soldiers that are fighting for the freedom of others... they go to the top of the health plan and pay scale as congressman are at and take over their jobs.If the time spent in a uniform isn't enough job training for a government salary then nothing else is!

Answer 4

Well, if the military ever allowed the soldiers to leave instead of extending their tours, they could join Blackwater and make 3-4xs what they do now....and not have any rules to abide by.
If this Admin has proven one thing is that Private mercinaries are equally as (if not more) important than our military.

As for the politicians, I always scratch my head over that one. Most of them have proven themselves worthless and obsolete a good majority of the time.

I say TERM LIMITS is a good way to start weeding them out.

Answer 5

my son is 17 and I seee the benefits in college paid by the military and the Veterens Hospitals...if he stayed 20 years a pension (but you can get a pension in a lot of jobs, get health care through work)....it has to be for a desire to serve or to escape a rut in a community with no future for a young person. It certainly isn't for the money that people join...they do give you a bed and 3 squares a day--it's a young person's gig...politicians need to make decent money, because we want qualified people to lead us...as long as they cannot change the laws to suit them and ignore us.

Answer 6

Politics! A point comes to mind, why shouldn't the commander-in-chief be at the 'front lines' just as past leaders of countries? Now even the higher ranking generals don't even get near the lines at all unless the whole army is around him.

Answer 7

I agree 100%!
In fact, I've often advocated that it just be the reverse: our valiant soldiers who willingly put their lives on the line deserve the kind of pay and benefits our members of Congress receive....
and our members of Congress [who are supposed to be 'public servants] should be paid the meager salaries our soldiers earn. -RKO- 12/01/07

Answer 8

When you consider that the military provides all testing, training for a job that they will have in the military, all clothing, meals, housing, medical and dental as well as other services that civilians pay for out of their own pockets....they actually make good money.
Think about that.
As far as politicians? They are politicians....they have their hands in everyones pockets.

Answer 9

Same as corporate America, people who actually do the work and produce things, or get a job done, are paid fraction of those who only talk about it?! It's unjust and unfair !?

Best Regards.

Answer 10

Because most of the people that sign up off of the streets that serve in the military are poor. They don't have the money or power to influence. Very sad.