Comments on: A modest proposal

By: Vader

Vader — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:02:37 +0000

Such political positions as I have held have all been appointed. But were I elected to Congress, I’m not sure part time would work very well for me. Death Star, Inc., would probably rather that I took a two-year unpaid leave of absence than that I flew out to Washingtion for a week every month, or a day every week, or whatever you envision as part-time.

Furthermore, some of the work by public-choice economists on rational ignorance suggests that we really do want a Congresscritter for whom it is a full-time job.

Being a Congresscritter is burdensome if it is done right. Making it part-time will not make it less so, nor is it clear to me that it would reduce the temptation or opportunity for corruption. I really do think the best ways to do that are (a) reduce the power the Government wields; (b) up the Congresscritters’ salaries to something resembling that of a CEO of a major business; and (c) pay a little attention to whom your’re electing.

I know that paying the current crop like a successful CEO is an idea that sticks in the craw. But paying Congresscritters as if they were doing the job the way you want them to is still a good idea. For one thing, it might make for a lot fewer unchallenged reelections.

Incidentally, His Majesty is cackling something about not needing to be all that strong in the Force to nail his prediction.

By: lyle

lyle — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:33:56 +0000

jindal proposed that recently also. Having interned with the part-time Utah State Legislature, I have to say that the part-time Congress sounds like a wonderful thing that would benefit all greatly; albeit perhaps the lobbyists. Unfortunately, almost all/any reforms end up putting more power in the hands of lobbyists [i.e. term limits = less experienced office holders that are beholden to lobbyists, etc]

By: Rameumptom

Rameumptom — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:40:12 +0000

Personally, I think the problem is we’ve expanded government to the point that many think that Congress is a job, particularly a lifetime job with lots of perks. We need to make them part time and create term limits, so there is less need of increased salaries and less chance of the power corrupting politicians.

Replace them with statesmen, like George Washington or Harry Truman, who after fulfilling his commitment, quietly went home.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:14:46 +0000

Certainly. Congressmen don’t need more salary, though. They need stock options.

Or a commission on every spending cut they make.