this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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USpolitics
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Politicians should be restricted to minimum wage. Its supposed to be a public service, not a fuckin career. You're supposed to do it because you want to speak for the people. Maybe then they'd move their asses.
Tale as old as Rome. Maybe we shouldn't have taken so much from them.
Sounds like a great way to ensure only the wealthy hold office. Also, the government salary is hardly breaking the bank. These people get their money from the wealthy, not from our taxes.
Good point. I guess a wealth limit that bars you from running if your net worth were too high might work... hmmm.
What would you do, if you had the power to change it?
I'm not sure a wealth limit would be the right solution, but it is an interesting idea. Honestly, I'm not nearly smart enough to have a detailed solution to something like this, but in general, eliminating the methods and loopholes government officials use to enrich themselves with their position - insider trading, campaign financing, lobbying, etc. All the things that corrupt the purpose of government.
You might be able to work with that. Cap the salary at twice minimum wage. There are far more poor people than wealthy people, and running for office would be both attractive for them financially, while making it unattractive for the wealthier of society. It wouldn't solve the problem of Bush Jrs or D. Trumps (the wealthy who inherited, but have proven incapable of making money themselves), but those people will always be a pestilence.
A concern might be that poor people will be easier to bribe, but I've seen no evidence in my life that being rich is a prophylactic against being crooked, so maybe it'd be OK.