At Least Someone Is Getting a Raise

Fortunately for all of us, at least one highly efficient and valuable segment of our society will not be forced to wallow in the tar spits of a sputtering economy. It will probably help them with their concentration.

With approval ratings at about 20%, Congress is getting itself another one of its annual pay raises with a big thank you courtesy of, you got it, themselves.

The raise will amount to $4,700 a year per House member.

The really cool thing about the way this whole Congressional pay raise business works is that it is automatic. It takes an act of Congress to actually stop the process. By doing it this way Congresspeople don't have to spend a lot of time gaveling and debating the finer points of their own compensation when there might be other pressing business to take care of, like asking auto maker executives and UAW workers to agree to slash their own pay.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe we need qualified people willing to serve in government, and I think that in order to attract high quality candidates the salary does need to be high enough to compete with the private sector for talent. Guys like William Jefferson and Duke Cunningham don't come on the cheap. However, I also think that current economic conditions should dictate to these lawmakers that there are times when even the most encumbered among us must make some sacrifices.

As it turns out, however, some people are simply better at leading through pointed posture than they are by, you know, taking any action. It wrinkles the suits, and you should see first hand the skyrocketing costs of dry cleaning/ironing in DC.

h/t Protein Wisdom