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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
Last seen: 29 days, 1 hour
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Congress gives self a raise...wtf?
#9465685 - 12/20/08 04:48 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/with-economy-in-shambles-congress-gets-a-raise-2008-12-17.html These crooks never cease to amaze me. We're in a GD recession and they give themselves a raise.
STORY.............................................................. A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.
Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.
“As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain,” said Daniel O’Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. “This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”
However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.
Still, Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Congress should have taken the rare step of freezing its pay, as lawmakers did in 2000.
“Look at the way the economy is and how most people aren’t counting on a holiday bonus or a pay raise — they’re just happy to have gainful employment,” said Ellis. “But you have the lawmakers who are set up and ready to get their next installment of a pay raise and go happily along their way.”
Member raises are often characterized as examples of wasteful spending, especially when many constituents and businesses in members’ districts are in financial despair.
Rep. Harry Mitchell, a first-term Democrat from Arizona, sponsored legislation earlier this year that would have prevented the automatic pay adjustments from kicking in for members next year. But the bill, which attracted 34 cosponsors, failed to make it out of committee.
“They don’t even go through the front door. They have it set up so that it’s wired so that you actually have to undo the pay raise rather than vote for a pay raise,” Ellis said.
Freezing congressional salaries is hardly a new idea on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers have floated similar proposals in every year dating back to 1995, and long before that. Though the concept of forgoing a raise has attracted some support from more senior members, it is most popular with freshman lawmakers, who are often most vulnerable.
In 2006, after the Republican-led Senate rejected an increase to the minimum wage, Democrats, who had just come to power in the House with a slew of freshmen, vowed to block their own pay raise until the wage increase was passed. The minimum wage was eventually increased and lawmakers received their automatic pay hike.
In the beginning days of 1789, Congress was paid only $6 a day, which would be about $75 daily by modern standards. But by 1965 members were receiving $30,000 a year, which is the modern equivalent of about $195,000.
Currently the average lawmaker makes $169,300 a year, with leadership making slightly more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) makes $217,400, while the minority and majority leaders in the House and Senate make $188,100.
Ellis said that while freezing the pay increase would be a step in the right direction, it would be better to have it set up so that members would have to take action, and vote, for a pay raise and deal with the consequences, rather than get one automatically.
“It is probably never going to be politically popular to raise Congress’s salary,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to find taxpayers saying, ‘Yeah I think I should pay my congressman more’.”
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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thebrain
Sir Cease Topic
Registered: 11/03/07
Posts: 1,215
Loc: Washington, USA, Earth, S...
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9465702 - 12/20/08 05:07 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Its ok. We have to pay our superheroes to keep our nation in homeostasis.
-------------------- </end thread>
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grymmtymm
lostinthought
Registered: 03/29/08
Posts: 1,137
Loc: inside your head
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9465704 - 12/20/08 05:09 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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all congress people get annual raises, then when they retire they get pensions and retirements and full health care and all that bullshit.
of course its no secret those fucks are nothing but lying thieves. to think otherwise would be lunacy.
-------------------- If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got.
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9465912 - 12/20/08 07:23 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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They do this virtually every year.
Pricks.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: niteowl]
#9469212 - 12/20/08 08:23 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I think they should get bread and water until our economy is stabilized.
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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Prisoner#1
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: niteowl]
#9469265 - 12/20/08 08:36 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
niteowl said: They do this virtually every year.
Pricks.
some of those raises are pretty big too, some as much as 20%
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469276 - 12/20/08 08:39 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
some as much as 20%
Seriously? Where did you find this?
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Prisoner#1
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Redstorm]
#9469316 - 12/20/08 08:50 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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several years ago, clinton administration, congress people were bouncing personal checks for the feds to pick up and apparently they decided they didnt make enough to balance their check book so they voted in a raise... I'll try and find a couple articles
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Prisoner#1
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Redstorm]
#9469350 - 12/20/08 09:00 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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damn... didnt find the one I was initially looking for but I did find one where the house voted themselves a 40% pay increase
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3970878.html
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hazey
Registered: 01/20/08
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9469371 - 12/20/08 09:07 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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notice how everyone loses their jobs except politicians. and even if they get fired they are rich anyway and win either way.
our forefathers intended for politicians to be middle class.
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cube talk
Stranger
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469374 - 12/20/08 09:08 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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F*ck yeah.. where is your god now?
--------------------
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469379 - 12/20/08 09:09 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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It only makes sense they'd vote themselves a raise, seeing as how they're giving money to everyone else who doesn't need it. That's how it works. If you're already rich, or you've stolen all your stockholders money, they'll give you more. Nothing like a good dose of corporate socialism, right as they're demanding the rest of us take pay and benefit cuts. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469392 - 12/20/08 09:12 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Jesus Christ, that is madness.
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DimensionX
King of Birds
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469416 - 12/20/08 09:19 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thats embezzlement as far as I'm concerned.
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: DimensionX]
#9469427 - 12/20/08 09:22 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Funny how just two months ago so many people were saying "Fuck it, I don't vote." This is what ya get, folks!
Anyway, why are people always surprised when congress acts like a group of politicians?
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Crasher
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9469445 - 12/20/08 09:25 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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How does the saying go?
You put over 400 people in a room, the only thing they can agree on is giving themselves more money and taking longer vacations...
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Redstorm]
#9469464 - 12/20/08 09:28 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Redstorm said: Jesus Christ, that is madness.
and to think, you serve a term and retire or get voted out and you still collect for the rest of your life... I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469471 - 12/20/08 09:30 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Prisoner#1 said: I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
I don't know, have you seen the people that play the lottery?
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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cube talk
Stranger
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9469497 - 12/20/08 09:34 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:
Redstorm said: Jesus Christ, that is madness.
and to think, you serve a term and retire or get voted out and you still collect for the rest of your life... I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
I propose a f*cking monarchy.
--------------------
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 10,525
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: cube talk]
#9469508 - 12/20/08 09:36 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
cube talk said:
Quote:
Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:
Redstorm said: Jesus Christ, that is madness.
and to think, you serve a term and retire or get voted out and you still collect for the rest of your life... I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
I propose a f*cking monarchy.
I propose we nominate a candidate to run for president on the basis of divine right next election.
I'll volunteer myself.
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cube talk
Stranger
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: bryguy27007]
#9469544 - 12/20/08 09:42 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I don't see why we don't become bullies in this world.
It's a dog eat dog world. I know it's wrong but seriously, if the people can't stop the government from doing this + raising taxes + gas prices... then wtf are they going to do about us going to war and taking over other countries.
I mean ffs, if your gonna do something wrong, might as well do it all the way. How about taking over venezula ( spellcheck ) and securing some resources.. wtf is the world going to do? Kick us out of NATO? And what? No one in their right mind is going to declare war on us.
I mean I hate to be the bully, i really do... but with people like OPEC getting away with their sh*t plus so many others.. theres no reason to be fair anymore....
--------------------
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: cube talk]
#9469632 - 12/20/08 10:02 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Aren't you already doing this???
Thats basically how a big portion of the world views America.
Also, have you seen some of the military forces other countries have? Plus you are connected to the global economy. If you think you can bully the world with no consequences your going to get owned.
Edited by DimensionX (12/20/08 10:07 PM)
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Crasher
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9469646 - 12/20/08 10:06 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I propose I lead a coup.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus
Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 1 month, 23 days
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469654 - 12/20/08 10:08 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Crasher said: I propose I lead a coup.
Count me in. I'll start cleaning my guns now.
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 10,525
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469658 - 12/20/08 10:09 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Crasher said: I propose I lead a coup.
I second that. I don't care what it stands for. I blindly follow all revolution.
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Crasher
αἱρετίζω
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Posts: 6,220
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: ToTheSummit]
#9469659 - 12/20/08 10:10 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Awesome. When It's over, all I want is ten acres in Santa Cruz.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 10,525
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469667 - 12/20/08 10:11 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Crasher said: Awesome. When It's over, all I want is ten acres in Santa Cruz.
I will organize troops for you. All I ask for in return is 10 acres in Oregon and immunity.
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Crasher
αἱρετίζω
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Posts: 6,220
Loc: Tardy to the Party
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: bryguy27007]
#9469677 - 12/20/08 10:13 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sounds good. I can grab a few guys to run insurgency classes. We'll hit LOC's and MSR's until we can organize a multi-regional force.
Then we'll take the capital.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: bryguy27007]
#9469684 - 12/20/08 10:15 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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If i get to take part in storming the white house then I'm in. But it would also be good if we can come down to Australia afterwards and storm Parliament.
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 10,525
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469687 - 12/20/08 10:16 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Crasher said: Sounds good. I can grab a few guys to run insurgency classes. We'll hit LOC's and MSR's until we can organize a multi-regional force.
Then we'll take the capital.
Edit: DemensionX, I see no problem with setting up another HQ in Australia, but let's focus on the US coup first.
Edited by bryguy27007 (12/20/08 10:18 PM)
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: bryguy27007]
#9469693 - 12/20/08 10:18 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I know this isn't original, but we should make playing cards with photos of politicians and other targets on them.
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Crasher
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: DimensionX]
#9469696 - 12/20/08 10:19 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I thought the Aussies and the UK were were going to follow our lead as soon as nation chaos ensued.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469719 - 12/20/08 10:23 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I'm sure they would but there are some troublemakers we're going to have to eliminate. A lot of troublemakers....
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Crasher
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: DimensionX]
#9469728 - 12/20/08 10:26 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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we'll come for you.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469753 - 12/20/08 10:30 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Crasher
αἱρετίζω
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: DimensionX]
#9469773 - 12/20/08 10:33 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Aussies should have the easiest time. No white man wants to wear riot gear in the outback.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469801 - 12/20/08 10:39 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thats true and because guns are so controlled here they aren't used to dealing with people with assault rifles. The only thing to worry about would be the military, but hopefully we can subvert them.
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Crasher
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: DimensionX]
#9469811 - 12/20/08 10:41 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I've met a few Aussie soldiers, they seem like they'd be ready to join the cause if it came to that.
If you could get some hookups through Micronesia, assault rifles would be no problem.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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bryguy27007
Cosmonaut
Registered: 01/26/08
Posts: 10,525
Loc:
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469822 - 12/20/08 10:43 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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You know, I was kidding at first, but this might actually happen.
(was looking for the beardstroke)
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Crasher
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Posts: 6,220
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: bryguy27007]
#9469837 - 12/20/08 10:46 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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There are a lot of people just waiting for the proper motivation.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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DimensionX
King of Birds
Registered: 09/26/07
Posts: 5,486
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9469846 - 12/20/08 10:47 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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That would be a good source, plus the drug trade is pretty well developed here so we can smuggle them through the same channels. My friend is in the military and they seem to train them in a lot of guerrilla tactics, which could easily be turned against the government. He told me with a small, well armed forced that he believed he could easily hold the city i live in.
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: ToTheSummit]
#9471521 - 12/21/08 07:34 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
ToTheSummit said:
Quote:
Prisoner#1 said: I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
I don't know, have you seen the people that play the lottery?
have you seen the people that run the country?
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
Last seen: 29 days, 1 hour
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9471531 - 12/21/08 07:42 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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screw a lottery.. the only people that win the lottery are old.
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
Last seen: 29 days, 1 hour
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Crasher]
#9471534 - 12/21/08 07:43 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Crasher said: There are a lot of people just waiting for the proper motivation.
QFT
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!
Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9471619 - 12/21/08 08:09 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
monkeywrench said: screw a lottery.. the only people that win the lottery are old.
fine... we'll handle it your way, we'll appoint only 6 year olds
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thekwazz
Calm.Collected.German
Registered: 09/01/08
Posts: 1,158
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: ToTheSummit]
#9471637 - 12/21/08 08:14 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
ToTheSummit said:
Quote:
Prisoner#1 said: I propose a lottery to allow everyone the chance for seat in congress that way everyone can have the same opportunity to fuck the country
I don't know, have you seen the people that play the lottery?
-------------------- Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome.
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman
Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9472049 - 12/21/08 10:32 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
monkeywrench said: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/with-economy-in-shambles-congress-gets-a-raise-2008-12-17.html These crooks never cease to amaze me. We're in a GD recession and they give themselves a raise.
STORY.............................................................. A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.
Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.
“As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain,” said Daniel O’Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. “This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”
However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.
Still, Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Congress should have taken the rare step of freezing its pay, as lawmakers did in 2000.
“Look at the way the economy is and how most people aren’t counting on a holiday bonus or a pay raise — they’re just happy to have gainful employment,” said Ellis. “But you have the lawmakers who are set up and ready to get their next installment of a pay raise and go happily along their way.”
Member raises are often characterized as examples of wasteful spending, especially when many constituents and businesses in members’ districts are in financial despair.
Rep. Harry Mitchell, a first-term Democrat from Arizona, sponsored legislation earlier this year that would have prevented the automatic pay adjustments from kicking in for members next year. But the bill, which attracted 34 cosponsors, failed to make it out of committee.
“They don’t even go through the front door. They have it set up so that it’s wired so that you actually have to undo the pay raise rather than vote for a pay raise,” Ellis said.
Freezing congressional salaries is hardly a new idea on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers have floated similar proposals in every year dating back to 1995, and long before that. Though the concept of forgoing a raise has attracted some support from more senior members, it is most popular with freshman lawmakers, who are often most vulnerable.
In 2006, after the Republican-led Senate rejected an increase to the minimum wage, Democrats, who had just come to power in the House with a slew of freshmen, vowed to block their own pay raise until the wage increase was passed. The minimum wage was eventually increased and lawmakers received their automatic pay hike.
In the beginning days of 1789, Congress was paid only $6 a day, which would be about $75 daily by modern standards. But by 1965 members were receiving $30,000 a year, which is the modern equivalent of about $195,000.
Currently the average lawmaker makes $169,300 a year, with leadership making slightly more. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) makes $217,400, while the minority and majority leaders in the House and Senate make $188,100.
Ellis said that while freezing the pay increase would be a step in the right direction, it would be better to have it set up so that members would have to take action, and vote, for a pay raise and deal with the consequences, rather than get one automatically.
“It is probably never going to be politically popular to raise Congress’s salary,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to find taxpayers saying, ‘Yeah I think I should pay my congressman more’.”
Congress hasn't "given" themselves a raise since 1989, when they passed legislation giving automatic COLA adjustments to inflation, unless voted specifically against. The intent was to avoid bitching like this EVERY GODDAMN YEAR. It costs money to be a politician other than travel expenses. Most end up spending more than their salary just to keep their jobs, expecting to recoup the losses with a generous job after their political careers are over, usually as a lobbyist.
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memes
Blessed
Registered: 01/11/05
Posts: 27,785
Loc: In a Tree
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Ferris]
#9472351 - 12/21/08 11:47 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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ferris speaks the truth.
edit: i took out a dumb sentence.
Edited by memes (12/21/08 11:49 AM)
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 908
Last seen: 29 days, 1 hour
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: Prisoner#1]
#9481399 - 12/23/08 12:43 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Prisoner#1 said:
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monkeywrench said: screw a lottery.. the only people that win the lottery are old.
fine... we'll handle it your way, we'll appoint only 6 year olds
Pris, you'd have to admit that they'd problem make more sensible decisions than our current politicians.
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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thekwazz
Calm.Collected.German
Registered: 09/01/08
Posts: 1,158
Loc: City of murder, GA
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9482470 - 12/23/08 10:22 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sure, if you like ice cream for dinner and Power Rangers on every channel.
Sounds great.
-------------------- Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome.
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Tedwilto
Veni, vidi, vici
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: thekwazz]
#9482599 - 12/23/08 10:52 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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thekwazz said: Sure, if you like ice cream for dinner and Power Rangers on every channel.
Sounds great.
theyve got my vote
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cortex
[ H ] ψ = [ E ] ψ
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Posts: 15,171
Loc: Gedankenexperiment
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: monkeywrench]
#9482634 - 12/23/08 11:00 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Big fucking deal! These people are ELECTED into office, and if they are SO fucking evil and corrupt, then, maybe you are lucky enough to live in a state where voters can recall an elected official, and start a petition and quit whining.
Senators and Congressmen have important jobs. They live in D.C. and $170,000 a year isn't THAT much money for someone who is elected to a top law-making position in the country. Most of these people were lawyers making about $116,000 before they became congressmen anyway.
Besides, wouldn't YOU vote a raise for yourself if you could? You jealous of their sweet salary? Run for office. Or become a lawyer.
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: thekwazz]
#9488244 - 12/24/08 08:43 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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thekwazz said: Sure, if you like ice cream for dinner and Power Rangers on every channel.
Sounds great.
I do, and?
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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monkeywrench
Why Not?
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Posts: 908
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Re: Congress gives self a raise...wtf? [Re: cortex]
#9488250 - 12/24/08 08:45 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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cortezthekiller said: Big fucking deal! These people are ELECTED into office, and if they are SO fucking evil and corrupt, then, maybe you are lucky enough to live in a state where voters can recall an elected official, and start a petition and quit whining.
Senators and Congressmen have important jobs. They live in D.C. and $170,000 a year isn't THAT much money for someone who is elected to a top law-making position in the country. Most of these people were lawyers making about $116,000 before they became congressmen anyway.
Besides, wouldn't YOU vote a raise for yourself if you could? You jealous of their sweet salary? Run for office. Or become a lawyer.
Let me tell ya, if these fuckers were doing a good job and the economy was hummin well I wouldn't have a big prob w/ an annual pay increase. but... have you watched the news lately?
-------------------- [quote]skalthren said: It's nice of you to imply that I've been brainwashed by the government, but the truth is that I'm simply intelligent enough to recognize the subtleties of these issues instead of going "durr hurr, weed should totally be legal!"[/quote]
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