Full Version: Politician's pay raises
In a last minute vote behind the taxpayers' backs, the Miami City Council voted to give the mayor a 50 Percent Pay Raise. A 50 Percent Pay Raise!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_on_...ami_mayor_raise
What do you people think?
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1. Can the politicians be trusted to set their own salaries?
2. Did the mayor actually deserve that high of a raise?
3. Should the citizens themselves vote on the salaries and perks at the election?
My take on this is that the Citizens themselves should set the salaries and benefits for the politicians at the election booth. For example, there are several instances in American history where the President and the politicians should have been forced to take a pay cut or been disciplined. Think of how Government could improve if we the Taxpayers could dock the politicians' paychecks or suspend them for bad behavior.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_on_...ami_mayor_raise
What do you people think?
=================
1. Can the politicians be trusted to set their own salaries?
2. Did the mayor actually deserve that high of a raise?
3. Should the citizens themselves vote on the salaries and perks at the election?
My take on this is that the Citizens themselves should set the salaries and benefits for the politicians at the election booth. For example, there are several instances in American history where the President and the politicians should have been forced to take a pay cut or been disciplined. Think of how Government could improve if we the Taxpayers could dock the politicians' paychecks or suspend them for bad behavior.
What do you people think?
=================
QUOTE
1. Can the politicians be trusted to set their own salaries?
Yes they can, they know they are accountable to the voters. In my own city, tough decisions are made and raises are not given out as richly as this case, but when it's done, they darn well have a reason for it and explain themselves to the citizens.
QUOTE
2. Did the mayor actually deserve that high of a raise?
Being the mayor of Miami is not exactly being the mayor of Mayberry. I'd wager that it's a full-time responsibility filled with a lot of ten to twelve hour days. The money is a lot, but what is the cost of living in Miami? In my state, the mayor would be filthy rich, though maybe in Miami, he wouldn't necessary be so. Correct?
QUOTE
3. Should the citizens themselves vote on the salaries and perks at the election?
They should vote on pay increases through whether or not they want a given council member to represent them. There already is accoutnability, now it's just a mtter of time before the citizens of Miami punish the council for their actions.
I did find this line to be somewhat insulting and very elitist:
QUOTE
City Manager Joe Arriola said that if taxpayers get upset about not being allowed to speak, "That's their problem." He said pocket items are not unusual, and that five came up on Thursday alone
Good thing he is bureaucrat, if he were elected, the people would make him pay for that comment. I'd definitely write a letter to the editor about that attitude-it really shows how they view the taxpayers of Miami.
QUOTE(skeeterses @ Dec 17 2005, 12:28 AM)
1. Can the politicians be trusted to set their own salaries?
2. Did the mayor actually deserve that high of a raise?
3. Should the citizens themselves vote on the salaries and perks at the election?
2. Did the mayor actually deserve that high of a raise?
3. Should the citizens themselves vote on the salaries and perks at the election?
1.) They were voted in by the people they represent. If a person does not have enough faith in that person when they voted for them, they should never have shown support for that politician in the first place.
2.) Whether he deserved it or not is not my place to judge. He may feel that way but if I were given more evidence I might not. As long as a program of importance is not being diminished so he can by that new porsch, then fine.
3.) That seems like a reasonable idea but in application may prove to be a bit tricky.
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