Should lawmakers get awards while cutting our benefits and paychecks?

[NoDecision]

Seems they all retire with full medical benefits and a fat retirement. They also retire as millionaires. Meanwhile they cut your benefits and with hold funding so people are working without paychecks.

[WindAtMyBack]

Federal Congress members pay into Social Security like everyone else. And they receive Social Security like anyone else. They have an optional retirement system that is the same as other federal employees. They have to pay into that like other federal employees. The federal system is not nearly as good as most state and city worker retirement systems.

Some of the longer term federal employees are grand fathered into the old retirement system. That started phasing out 40 years ago, so very few current employees are on that plan. I don't know if any current Congress members are on it.

Retiring as a millionaire is no big deal. Anyone with a decent job can do that. Serving in Congress is a high level position and actually pays quite low compared to equivalent civilian jobs.

[Kelley1]

That is false. They receive far more with less time, and the retirement system for Congress is fully funded. Social Security and the retirement system for government employees are not fully funded.

[WindAtMyBack]

@Kelley1

That's not true. It is most definitely not fully funded.

The minimum vestment period of five years is the same for Congress as it is for other federal employees. Five years is not an unusual vestment period. But like other retirement systems, they don't get much of a pension with only five years. They also can't get it before 62. That's the same minimum age as Social Security.

There was a crossover period when existing employees transitioned from the old retirement system to Social Security. During that time Congress members actually paid MORE than other federal employees.

Because of the crossover, it's pretty complicated, with both Congress and other federal employees being on several different plans. Congress did have an accelerated plan because their job is considered insecure. But they also paid more into it for the same reason.

I don't know why everyone complains about this. Congress members don't get paid shit for the level of job they have. Most of them would be making a heck of a lot more in the private sector.

[DonaldDarko]

They definitely need something similar around their neck. I do think that the choice of textile here is wholely inappropriate. It need not be a ribbon a cotton polymer or simple nylon would do. The tensile strength needs to be increased a lot as well.

[NoDecision]

Like a rope you mean? Would tar and feathers be in the mix too?

[DonaldDarko]

No , for the sake of efficiency. Too many to process. The quicker we work the better. It is tempting though.

[NoDecision]

Or maybe an Albatross?

[DonaldDarko]

Good for a start.

[Kelley1]

It is not a matter of should, it is a matter of is. All people, including politians are selfish. Since they have the power, they will be selfish. The only way to limit their selfishness to eliminate their power. However, since they have total control, that is impossible.

[KimmySchmit]

Absolutely. Just look at Omar, how'd she become a multi millionaire so quickly

[lightbulb27]

yea it's not supposed to be like that. Money corrupted everything. Without money can't get there other than rare few, and they get rich as well.

Jim Trafficant

AOC

Examples of more poor representatives and middle class, but in general, our govt been corrupt long time.

[ohsheeT]

No because the only person they're getting awards from are other congressman and senators that are getting the same benefits and doing the same type of work that your lawmaker just did because nobody else would give them these Awards except for themselves to make themselves look like they're doing something my lawmakers and my city Senator congressman you don't hear anything from them ever until election day basically and that really sucks

[Miristheiss]

Benefits?

What are you referring to? I do not consider endless welfare programs that get stolen by fraud to be the main role of our taxes.

Women voted for all of that toxic empathy shit when they got power.

Abortion, endless welfare, lets in millions of 3rd world people and boys in our daughters changing rooms is what women do with voting rights.

All emotion and toxic empathy shit.

What benefits are you worried aren't going from our taxes to your pocket?

[exitseven]

Term limits would do a lot to fix this. Being in congress was not supposed to be a lifelong career.

[NoDecision]

They wouldn't be if the dumb people wouldn't keep re-electing them.

[In_Trance]

At the same time, you can't stay in the same job for years expecting more to come your way. If you want more; whatever that is, you need to go and get it. It's within your right and your capability to go out and make as much money as you want, find a job with increased stock options, better benefits, more vacation and/or whatever else you want

[NoDecision]

Sounds good but the poor can't do that. They are just fighting to put food on the table with low paying jobs where the CEO makes $20M a year.

[In_Trance]

I get it, but don't you think "the poor" are poor for a reason? There is a very different level of motivation in them.

[DonaldDarko]

This.

[Surely]

Their awards should be living the laws that they force upon the rest of us!

[NoDecision]

They take more recesses than a grade school.

[Dargil]

Legislators cannot cut your paycheck. Legislators cannot cut your benefits.

[NoDecision]

Sure they can, just ask the TSA agents.

[Dargil]

They aren't voting against Americans. Democrats hate americans.

[beefcakebradybatson]

They're mostly crooks !!!

[AgentG111]

Nope that's why we need term limits!

[NoDecision]

I agree, but the lawmakers would never limit the means of their wealth and power.

[AgentG111]

Definitely know that. That's why they must have a job or be retired and the money they are allowed is for needed things of the job nothing extra

[Pterodon]

Nothing is stopping you from doing the same

[NoDecision]

Tell that to the people who live in the ghettos in NYC. The only way for them to make a living is by crime and being a member of a gang. Ever see the movie "The Warriors"? about a gang trying to make it back to Coney Island while every other gang in NYC is trying to bring them down.

[Pterodon]

Shame on your mayor you elected