And then they like to put up measures to increase their salary from $5k to $25k, as if that’ll let your average Joe run and isn’t just a handout to the already wealthy scum currently in office. Bonus points when they also try to increase the term limit at the same time.
Comment on It's great to see a politician that's progressive and Not a Millionaire.
The_v@lemmy.world 2 days agoMost elected positions don’t pay enough in the U.S. today. This is expecially true in state legislature where most politicians start before attempting a national run. The only people who can afford to run for underpaid positions are either independently wealthy or corrupt. For example let’s look at some of the most corrupt states in the U.S.
Texas - state senators & representatives $7,200 salary and $221/per diem when in session.
Louisiana- senator and representatives $16,800 + $178/per diem and $6000 slush fund.
Utah - state senators and representatives $0 salary and $301/per diem.
Nevada - State senators and representatives $0 salary and $130/per diem.
This lack of pay for positions is deliberate to keep “working class” out of government. It lead to open corruption and conflict of interest being normalized.
chisel@piefed.social 2 days ago
Eldritch@piefed.world 2 days ago
Initially politician wasn’t supposed to be a career. It was a side hustle you did after planting and after harvest. Which exains some of the session schedules you see today that seem odd.
I’d argue that we need to get these offices back to being what you do outside your day job again. Whatever that means in modern society. However, if were going to make the mistake of letting it remain a career path. We do need to pay accordingly. While codifying actual laws against graft. Not just unenforceable “norms”.
NathanDerWeise@feddit.org 2 days ago
Most Americans get two weeks off a year, if they’re lucky. There’s no way to make this “outside your day job.”
Eldritch@piefed.world 2 days ago
They’re 100% is. But it 100% requires addressing what you just talked about. There needs to be a new labor movement. Where terms are renegotiated again.
The_v@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It was designed so that wealthy landowners could attend sessions more easily. Just like the u.s. senate does not represent the population, but the land area. The writers of the national and state constitutions were almost all wealthy landowners.
In my opinion, given the size of the population and the complexity of the economy, full time politicians who are paid very well combined with draconian anti-graft laws are needed.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world 2 days ago
The difference is that in ye olden days there was simply much less need for full time legislators. In an era where 90% of the population lived on largely self-sufficient family farms, and large scale economic regulation wasn’t widespread, part time legislators made a lot more sense.
Eldritch@piefed.world 2 days ago
Is it that different today? I’d argue a lot of the legislation getting done that isn’t just naming things. Or approving reoccurring spending isn’t just useless, but harmful.
WoodScientist@lemmy.world 1 day ago
All I’m saying is government at all levels today does a hell of a lot more than governments did in the 19th century. We simply ask more from our governments than we used to. And the more a government does, the more legislation will be necessary.
driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 2 days ago
Did you mean after your slaves plantar and harvest?