How about countering lilylangtree's objection by explaining why you think six straight years of pay raises is a non-story?
Does the fact that Congress can simply vote to raise its salary not merit some scrutiny? I'd sure love to raise my own salary that way, and I'm sure I'd do so only from the purest motives and through completely objective analysis of my needs.
Actually, I misspoke in the previous paragraph. Congress doesn't even have to vote to get a pay raise. They must affirmatively vote to prevent an automatic pay raise.
I was referring to defamation of character: it is acceptable and even laudatory in our society to simply call these people crooks and say that they do not deserve a penny. One does not bear false witness: if one has arguments against a particular person's wrongdoing, they should be stated. But one does not raise an accusatory finger without reasons. I do not see why lawmakers should be an exception.
Further, most of the people who scream about this as if it were a self-evident truth have no clue about management, whether private or public. They do not even know the basics of how labor markets work. It is much like posting, "The speed of sound is smaller than a speed of light! Outrageous!" Nobody does that, because these are facts, laws of nature. But economics and management are somehow excluded: one does not feel an obligation even to study them before passing judgment. And that shows: such posts scream of the ignorance of the poster.
Congress doesn't even have to vote to get a pay raise. They must affirmatively vote to prevent an automatic pay raise.
Correct.
I have not studied the arguments advanced for that measure. But I certainly think that it is a move in the right direction: out lawmakers are grossly underpaid.
Unfortunately, it is the common envy of our people that prevents the adjustment to be made all at once. Perhaps, these raises are designed to do so gradually.
Well as the neo-cons love to tell us, the age of small government is over...so why should not the ruling elite of the government improve their lots at the expense of others? Criticizing your betters is also unacceptable, and that is a party neutral statement...since raises have come when both parties controlled the government.