The big question of the day is … What would you cut from the national debt?
My focus is on every single politician. While I am very well aware of the other wasteful spending … my particular focus is on the politicians themselves. Leading by example is the only way!
So to YOU Politicians ... this is what I would cut
#1 Your salary! ALL you politicians need to be forced to take a substantial pay cut until our debt is paid. Your yearly pay should be $24,000 with the bare minimum of benefits. Sounds a little harsh? Tell that to the working public who make this and less!
I propose for every single politician -- from the President down to city counsel -- that you do not receive a salary for four years. After that four years -- your yearly salary should be no more than $24,000 -- with the minimum of benefits and no business expense whatsoever. In fact, everything--from travel/lodging to your own housing-- should be paid out of your own pockets until our debt is substantially lowered.
You members of Congress alone make $500,000 per year. FOR WHAT?! Oy! And you have the nerve to tell us -- the American People -- to cut back and make do?
500,000 x 535 politicians = 2617500000 dollars. That’s an estimated amount of how much it cost the taxpayers to pay members of Congress and the Senate each year. I mean where in the hell do you put the damn comma in that amount???! Multiply that by four years and be prepared for your eyes to pop out!
#2 Put an end to your automatic pay increase. Social Security recipients have not received a pay increase in over four years. Yet you members of Congress have an automatic pay increase each and every single year. Cease and decease already!
#3 Cut your housing/travel and business expenses. This goes for every single politician! No exceptions!
Congress cut subsidy for Section 8 in order to spare the tax payer. Yet you, dear politicians, YOUR housing and all YOUR lodging when traveling is paid by the American taxpayer. Talk about a set of brass balls!
How many people lost their homes? How many who have the good fortune to be using Section 8 have to cut back other necessities in order to meet the rent each month?
The average American who has the good fortune to actually own a car has to pay out the ass for their fuel, insurance, etc. The rest of us have to either walk, ride a bike or take public transportation. While members of Congress get to ride around in their big gas gusseling vehicles and airplanes … all at the taxpayer’s expense!
If you are lucky to have a job -- who pays for your expenses when you take a vacation?
And don’t even get me started on the utilities. Unlike these politicians, tax dollars don’t pay for my lights, gas and water!
#4 Cease paying former presidents and their bodyguards! Are you seriously kidding me? I understand paying a pension -- but seeing how you are willing to cut the Average American's pension and all of their benefits -- who the hell are you to take the best and tell the rest of us to tough it out? And what the hell is all this Secret Service to guard these former presidents about???!!! Seriously? What the hell?!!! Regular Americans don't have this luxury! And many live in high crime areas. Where are their body guards? hmmmm? Where is the Secret Service when somebody's grandmother is being mugged or raped ... or murdered? I mean who are any of you politicians that your life and the lives of your families are deemed more important than the average American?
I’m one of many who are sick and tired of these politicians having the best of everything while we have to make do. And I take great exception when all of you in Congress tell Americans that WE have to make sacrifices and WE have to do without so that YOU can live in the lap of luxury! All at the expense of the American taxpayer!
Every one of you politicians need to lead by example. And you can start by taking the drastic pay cuts and other cuts in your little perks! Making all the necessary sacrifices in order to lower the debt.
While this may only make a tiny scratch on the overall surface -- it is at least a start in the right direction!
