Stop The CorruptionSubmitted by sillychillly t3_y7doiu in Maine
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isugghe wrote
Reply to comment by Bywater in Stop The Corruption by sillychillly
I'm not mad about insider trading. I'm mad that I don't have the networking connections to do it myself. We're all human. I know it sounds good to say I would never do that but the reality is a substantial amount of people would partake in insider trading if they had the ability to.
I already posted something similar but he does have a good point. Government pay sucks. After talking to some of my state senators and my local representatives I realized that it really sucks. The really smart people go private sector, we get the second stringers because of the graft. You get rid of the graft we're really going to have even worse politicians.
Obviously there's exceptions to the rule, looking at you Bernie. But those politicians are the exception, not the rule
Random-Rambling t1_isuinh5 wrote
So what should we do?
If we pay gov't employees more, you get greedy bastards only in the job for the money. If we pay them less, you get...even greedier bastards who manipulate the system for more money.
Bywater t1_isujm03 wrote
The problem now is that we have way to much hierarchy and far to little accountability. Those we elect to represent us tend to just represent whatever will make them the most money to get back in office so they can continue to profit off that position of trust.
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isujy41 wrote
Off the cuff maybe we could offer voter based incentives. Annually after election the constituents can vote whether or not the official earned a bonus.
I don't mind greedy bastards. Money, shame and pride are powerful motivations.
Unpopular opinion but I'd like to just pay them more. Like I said I don't mind if they're just in it for the money as long as they're the best at what they do. Elected official is a job and most people want the best paying job they can get which leaves us with people who couldn't cut it in the private sector.
Bywater t1_isuifsn wrote
I ditched all my stocks decades ago, that shit more rigged than a casino.
Saying "Government pay sucks" considering the current state of economic affairs makes you sound both privileged and completely out of fucking touch. Even if you ignore the fact that they still get a pension saying that people who get paid 5 and a half times the median income in our country get a free pass on corruption because that is how you get good people is peak fuckwit.
I swear the number of people who are content to be ruled and allow those in power to have their own set of laws is why we are in such a bad way. Defending their ability to engage in insider trades, and even own stocks for company they make decisions on is an ethical nightmare, that you can't see that shit is speaks to how effective propaganda is on some folks gullibility. But hey, some folks cool with people taking classified documents home from work with them, so I guess I should not be surprised anymore.
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isulmls wrote
Ad hominem is not the way to get anyone to respect your opinion. You realize you can't murder the opposition you have to sway them to your side with articulate arguments. You ever won a debate by calling the other person a fuckwit?
State senators make less than $16k a year. Substantially below the poverty level. So yes government pay sucks. If you're surviving on less than that every year please share how you're doing yet. It's not an automatic pension, I don't know what you're getting that information.
You make a really poor argument. What are you talking about with classified documents? Are you one of these right wingers that believes everyone is guilty until proven innocent?
If you're off stocks what makes up your IRA? Genuine question, mine is almost entirely VOO with a little VXUS. Always interested in how to diversify
Bywater t1_isunrt1 wrote
I was describing you, if you found it to be insulting maybe you should reflect on that. As for respecting my opinion, do what you want, but I have long since given up on reaching most people who are so committed to whatever it is they decided to believe in that they lack the strength to challenge their own beliefs regardless of the information they are presented with.
I firmly believe that if you use your position of power to make a single dollar by violating your oath and the trust of those you represent that you should not be in office. As you came out saying that they have no choice but to do this and survive, despite how much better off they are than 90% of Americans, to defend that corruption? Ya, with as deep as you are in that bubble I know I will never be able to pop it. I mean even with the 16k we pay our reps (it varies by state) as they work less than half a year they are still above the median, but lets not let that get in the way of some kind of clear repetition of Dan Crenshaw's talking points to defend his millions he made.
Gayasskat t1_isuolhh wrote
I mean yeah if I had the ability to rob a bank and have no repercussions I would do it. Doesn't mean it should be legal lmao
c4boom13 t1_isutb5t wrote
State Congress is SIGNIFICANTLY different than Federal Congress. Federally all members make $174k or more as their pay. Considering Congressional sessions are not a full time job (the rest of the year they spend fundraising for re-election which doesn't count), that is plenty for them to live very comfortably. They just want MORE. If they want to play the stock market and build personal wealth, they can retire from Congress.
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isuytir wrote
I'm not disagreeing with you. At some point I'm going to fact check that $174k is enough to live comfortably in DC but for now I'll go along with it.
Everybody wants more. You say that like it's an accusation of wrongdoing when wanting more is the American dream.
On a federal level they're making about what a programmer who took a 6 month boot camp makes a year. 166k average vs 174k.
They live in spotlight under constant scrutiny, at any given time probably a third of the country hates them no matter how good a job they're doing.
I'm fine with getting rid of the graft but you have to bump up the salary or as I said we're going to get even worse politicians than we have now.
TarantinoFan23 t1_isuikwz wrote
Lol, thats terrible logic. The solution is pull you cheeks apart so it doesn't hurt so bad?
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isum1c1 wrote
Dude.. I'll debate with you all day but if you're going to shit post with no kind of articulate response I'm going to bail.
Do you talk to people like this at the pub or when you're volunteering for GOTV?
TarantinoFan23 t1_isute6i wrote
Could you show me some legislation that would meet your stamp of approval?
Independent-Ruin-185 t1_isuxaxg wrote
Death with Dignity is legislation that gets my stamp of approval. Granted they waited to pass it until after we put it on the ballot but a win is a win.
Edit: haha you win, you baited me into a reply after I said I was out if you kept up like this.
TarantinoFan23 t1_isv0nur wrote
Intresting. I am opposed to assisted suicide because it only benefits the survivors (family), which seems like a slippery slope. And the fact that we only assume that death ends the suffering of the person who dies.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments