I just found a chart of congressional and senate salaries dating back to

The only type of person I think should dominate our government are those that are truly interested in benefiting and improving the country. Unfortunately, these people are usually scared off by the mud-slinging incumbents and press and the fact that it takes millions to get elected. Maybe we should specify that only people totally lacking in charisma and Hollywood good looks should run. That alone would probably get us a better quality representative!

I read somewhere that there are a set of qualities required to successfully run for office, and a set of qualities required to actually be able to do the job, and that unfortunately there is very little to no overlap between the two.

In my oppinion and my oppinion only, Bush was a perfect example of that. Amazing at getting the job, twice infact! Terrible at doing the job

It should be illegal to profit from public office. That would get us some more honest reps. It'll never happen, but it would be nice.

I seriously doubt a bunch of corrupt politicians would ever pass a law to make what their doing illegal though....Definitely wouldn't happen!

Utah is right. A lot of politicians use their office to get high paying jobs for their spouses. You can see this if you look at where public money is going like the million dollars Obama got for his wife's hospital. Rod Blagojevich was brutal with taking state contracts away from companies that wouldn't hire his wife. She ended up with a nice 6 figure salary. These politicians don't need to earn a lot since their power lets them funnel taxpayer dollars through companies with government contracts to their spouses.

Vote them out! Never, ever re-elect anyone. Eventually they'll get the idea that there is only one term and the greedy ones will go elsewhere to fleece people. Start with your next election, vote the a$$holes out!! That's what I do every time, it's just that nobody else will cooperate, they're all sheep who believe the lies they are told.

I never heard of a citizen's legislature but just read a bit about it. Why don't all states have that?! It seems a better form of governing than the greedy vultures we elect now.

I actually like that idea about making them live on military bases. Each state has senators and other politicians, and each state has at least one military base in it. The fact that they wouldn't have to pay any rent, and the fact that a lot of things such as water and electricity is usually free on the bases would mean that you wouldn't have to pay them as much. Most bases also have golf courses, gyms, swimming pools, and other things that people who live on the base can take advantage of. There could be a few houses on base designated for use by the senators and representatives. They could still have access to their gyms, pools, and golf courses, but they would have to share them with everyone else on base. Their kids could also go to the schools on the base. I know some bases have schools on them, while other bases do not. This should be considered as an option. It just makes sense. Most of the houses on the bases are pretty nice. Not to mention that the security on some bases is pretty good, although it does suck on others, and is pretty much non-existent on some of them. Some bases actually have no security at all. It is hard for some people to believe, but civilians can just drive right onto some of our military bases. Contrary to what most Americans would like to believe, our military bases are not all as locked tight and impregnable as the movies make them seem. Most people would actually be pretty alarmed to find out just how ineffective and predictable our military bases and other government institutions really are. However, that is not what this discussion is about now is it?? LOL

I think that reps should have to live on the median salary of their states and if they want to live in DC should have to live in barracks or rooming houses. That would bring them down to earth! I know that's not realistic and will never happen but most of those guys have no real world experience in making payrolls or running businesses. They have no real knowledge of how the people live.

Another Ohioan!! I love this state, moved back here two years ago and I'm so glad I did. Isn't this just the best place in the world to be? We can vote out all incumbents if we can just convince others to help. Don't re-elect anyone!!! That's what I do. If we would all do that, they would eventually get the idea that they'd better look elsewhere for graft and corruption to profit from. We may even eventually get a few statesmen in office.

Dragon, I agree with your idea. The problem is getting other people to do the same. Here in Northwest Ohio we had one of the most corrupt representatives in the country, and he was reelected every time without any problems. It is sad that so many people vote because of the letter at the end of the persons name instead of what they stand for. But, that is politics, everyone is just bunched into two different groups, and that is all that needs to be said.

We'd save a lot if we eliminated their pensions! Did you know that even one term in Congress nets you a pension for life?! That's ridiculous. It's supposed to be public SERVICE! There's a lot of things Congress has that they shouldn't. I don't mind paying them but I resent my money being used on luxuries like the gym they have, pensions, car leases and other crap.

It will happen if people would quit re-electing the jerks. Vote them all out in every single election! One term only! They'll have to try harder and they will until they realize, in a decade or so, that one term is all they'll get. Then only people who really want to improve things will want the office since there's no chance of a career. Vote them out! I do, every election, but nobody will cooperate with me.

The voters would love that campaign!! But your opponents would slaughter you--when they were done with you, you'd be disgraced and possibly framed for corruption and in jail. Politicians are dangerous, immoral people and crossing them that way would not be good for you and your family.

If we would ALL refuse to re-elect any official, they would be forced to try harder to please us and to do a good job. I don't know why the voters cast their votes for incumbents, they just keep electing the same people over and over and that perpetuates the corruption. Next election, vote them ALL out!! That's what I always do. If people would join me, we'd probably see a definite improvement in the quality of our representatives.

You won't find a politician like that, the others (if he or she even managed to get elected) would tear them up and spit them out! The answer is to NEVER re-elect anyone! Vote for new people, every time. Eventually they'll get the idea that the gravy train is over and maybe we'll get some people in that are interested in doing some good. It would also stop the ridiculous amounts spent on campaigns, if they knew they only had one term to serve. There will never be a term limit law passed so we have to do it ourselves. Vote them all OUT next election!