-For My Disgruntled Pal, Tom Hyland-
“Maybe We Should Only Pay Our Elected Officials,
For The Days That They Actually Work.”
Bob Schieffer, CBS News
As our federal government braces once again for another possible shut down,
Our Congressional officials, are once again on vacation, hustling out of town.
In the very midst of one of our nation’s most abysmal financial melt downs,
They’re off partying and politicking, while D.C. once again, is a Ghost Town.
They are off work, for another entire week, they call: ‘President’s Day Recess,’
As they raced out of town, they shouted: “After Vacation, We’ll Do Our Best!”
In 2010, in case you weren’t aware, they all enjoyed 23 weeks of paid vacation,
While our nation was crumbling all around us, and so many jobs came to an end.
And, Congressional salaries have risen steadily, from about $75,000 a year back in 1985,
To over $162,000 in 2005, with ‘automatic yearly increases’ – golly gee, what a surprise.
Today, the minimum Congressional Salary, with over 23 weeks of paid vacation, is $174,000,
So Tom, my friend, don’t expect any Change soon, no matter how much you may hoot & holler.
And, if you are wondering why they fret and fuss and pontificate over leadership positions,
Congressional ‘Leaders’ make $223,000 a year, and they get to ‘gavel in’ their next vacation.
But they have vowed, that when they return again, they will be making some very painful cuts,
Although they won’t take away anything they already have; the cuts will be, from the rest of us.
“Maybe We Should Only Pay Our Elected Officials,
For The Days That They Actually Work.”
Historically, they were paid on a ‘Per Diem’ Basis,
But Alas, That Was Way Back, In 1789;
Today, They All Get Paid, No Matter What,
And They’re Still All Partying, Like It’s 1999.
©February 2011, A Grim Realist, Mr. Ed