Lawmaker Salaries & Private vs. Government Class

[alifeinfocus]

Legislative Salaries per state in 2007Michigan is highest at $79,650/year with a $12,000 yearly expense allowance. It's no wonder that the election process is so cutthroat; it pays to be a lawmaker in this country. With benefits like that, who needs to work in the private sector? Nice job, if you can get elected

Comments

[fasterpssycat]

Don't forget, not too many office workers have the luxury of a union to strong-arm their employer. My raises are dependent on the job I do, not how much me and my coworkers decide we're worth.

[alifeinfocus]

I was going to elaborate more and make that exact point, but I deleted that paragraph because I knew some people would blow a gasket. ;)

Fuck it. I added it.

[fasterpssycat]

Yeah, I thought the same thing. But I'm not criticizing them. It's the system I don't care for. For me, joining a union would be counter to my principles. If that isn't where you're coming from, then it's fine for you. I disagree whole-heartedly with the way labor unions, in my opinion, are able to use what amounts to extortion to get their way, not to mention the money they use to influence elections in a way individuals are now forbidden from doing with McCain/Feingold(lobbying, anyone? I thought we wanted that out of politics...). I don't think union membership should be mandatory for any job, but many times it is. Good teachers get let go all the time because of the teacher's union love of seniority over ability.

I'm not making a character judgement on those in unions. It's not personal.

[alifeinfocus]

Exactly. It's not the employees, it's the system. I can't blame someone for wanting higher wages and better benefits. Mark has actually tried to convince me to look for a gov't office job for years, but I refuse on principle.

I was going to go on about make-work jobs due to regulation and bloated government and how these jobs don't produce anything, etc. I just thought that might stir the pot too much, so I left it out.

[moozeekfan]

I don't think you're going to find any sympathy under these present economic conditions. :p

[alifeinfocus]

Sympathy?

[moozeekfan]

Suggesting that all government employees are overpaid, I mean. It's kind of hard not to take offense to that, being one myself.

[alifeinfocus]

I understand. My argument isn't personal; it's more about the system.