Hypothesis: If we cut the pay for holding political office to minimum wage MAX... 95% of the problems in our government would be solved because we'd find out who really wants to do the job and who's there for a free meal ticket.

Lets discuss.

I certainly agree to some extent. I think in reality, the minimum wage might be a bit low for such a stressful job. But something livable that many people in society endures similar stress may be appropriate. I bet the problems of a middle-low income house (say $30-50k) would be quickly resolved if said house, senate, and executive members made $30-50k/yr. Oh, and no, you can't make $30k salary and $100 mil from "lucky investments" and call that fair haha!

Love it!

Unfortunately herein lies the problem. Politicians get filthy rich from back door deals and lobbyists, not their salaries. I am heavily involved in our local County Republican Executive Committee so I see and battle the swamp rats a lot.

I like the NASCAR method...the larger the sponsor, the bigger the letters you need sewn on the back of their suits so you know who are the special interests supporting them👍😁

Politicians make a lot of their money from insider trading, and gifts. Cutting their pay would not resolve their issue.

Their pay is high, but doesn't explain the net worth they acquire over the years.

2022 is an interesting year. Americans are pissed and are doing something about it. In Minnesota our DFL governor Tim Walz and wife beater AG Keith Ellison have literally destroyed small business over the last 2 years using Covid as an excuse. They actually imprisoned small business owner Lisa Hanson, wife, mother, and grandmother, for opening her business against the tyrant Walzs executive orders....all while big box businesses remain open. She's now running for Senate and I think that she'll win. I've been involved in politics since that "one guy" got elected back in '08. This year we made a special effort to reach out to patriot / like minded individuals and we've actually been able to inject a lot of new blood into our local BPOU's, which translates to delegates at Congressional District and State levels. We actually had a long term incumbent RINO senator who thought he was untouchable get unseated (not endorsed) when a newcomer, health freedom advocate stole his endorsement on the very first vote. Prior to that he had called me asking for my support, my response was that we need bold senators willing to take the lead (which he wasn't). I don't think that he got the message...but I'm seeing this replayed in my state of Minnesota. We also have a newcomer to the gubenatorial race...Neil Shah...and I think that he's just what we need and I think that he has a good chance against the other 3 challengers from the swamp (Gazelka, Jensen, Benson). 2022 can be an amazing political year if we put in the effort.

Actually the reality should be the opposite - we should 10x their salary. Our best and brightest are going into STEM or Wall Street where at 25 you can make half a million a year. The only people willing to go to a super high cost of living city making $150k per year are usually those who are making more money in their politician job than they would in on their own skills (see AOC, Marjorie Taylor Greene, etc).

If the pay was ultra competitive, we'd have far more credentialed people running instead of people with no accomplishments who only know how to pander.

Who do you want making decisions and laws governing your life? Someone intelligent enough to understand software systems architecture at scale? Someone who can understand crazy math involved in quantitative market analysis? Or someone whose highest paid skill was serving lemon drops for college kids?

We all believe in how competition drives markets and the best are rewarded for their abilities, but we want to pay literally the most important job in our society as little as possible? It doesn't make sense.

Yes, the original intent for politicians was to have a career, take a little time off to go to Washington, and go back to your career. But we need to be honest with ourselves and appreciate that we live in a different time.