Ponzio

Ponzio

Audioholic Samurai
How dare you????????????

The first members of Congress were paid almost nothing until 1855, except 1815 which, I assume, had to do with the War of 1812 eating the budget and compensation has risen drastically since 1969-

And your point being? That they should work for free? I'm confused.

We barely attract the smartest members of society as it is to serve. Especially when they can work in the private sector for 3 to 10 times their current salary. No wonder a vast majority of them are corrupt. We live in a capitalist society and you want them to sit on their hands, while everyone around them (lobbyists) are making a killing.

Why do you think most of them become lobbyists after they retire or lose an election? For our benefit? o_O :D :D :D :D
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
And your point being? That they should work for free? I'm confused.

We barely attract the smartest members of society as it is to serve. Especially when they can work in the private sector for 3 to 10 times their current salary. No wonder a vast majority of them are corrupt. We live in a capitalist society and you want them to sit on their hands, while everyone around them (lobbyists) are making a killing.

Why do you think most of them become lobbyists after they retire or lose an election? For our benefit? o_O :D :D :D :D
Not free, but they need to stop seeing Congress as a path to wealth and a long-term career. It's called 'public service' and without term limits, they won't leave.

So, your point about this is that they SHOULD be free to make as much as possible while they're in office?
 
Ponzio

Ponzio

Audioholic Samurai
So, your point about this is that they SHOULD be free to make as much as possible while they're in office?
You know dam well that's not what I meant. Lets not be facetious here.

I do believe, to an extent, that they would be less susceptible to graft/corruption if they were earning a wage, commensurate to their skills. Wouldn't you?

I imagine some truly come into the job thinking they can make a change for the best but are soon disabused of the notion watching the pigs at the trough, while they go hungry.
 
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lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
I agree, protesting and rioting are stupid ..........;)
You left out the guns part. Nothing wrong with a protest, or perhaps even a riot when called for, but without guns. Carrying guns around generally is stupid, but in "mob" circumstances certainly won't help.
 
eljr

eljr

Audioholic General
Joe's a lot of things; centrist he's not.

He's from the conservative wing of the party, always has been. He's changed his conservative positions (economically, domestic & internationally) only when necessary and the times call for it. It was the main reason Obama picked him as his VP, to balance the ticket.
What are you saying?

I don't follow. If he is from teh right of the DNC he is a centrist in the national debate.

//??????????????????
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
We need to make it abundantly clear that we're pissed off and that we're are sick of the shyte being done in our government. They need to understand that if they want to keep their positions, they need to represent us in a way that reflects what we actually want and need, not what makes them wealthy, powerful and lazy. Their avarice and greed are what prevents peace, civility and some level of contentment in the general population.

I have a suggestion for making Congress change- alter the system so we determine their compensation and make it necessary for them to ask us for a pay raise. If we don't approve of their performance, they don't get it. They determine their own compensation and they also made it possible to receive money from lobbyists- that's insane.
...
If anyone knows how this can be implemented, we need to look into it and make it happen. Congress' approval rating is below 20%- if most people in the private sector performed that badly, we wouldn't have that job.
I think we'll need to start with protesting!

We can bring guns and get better media attention - how cool would it be to have a picture of me looking tough with my assault rifle in the newspapers?!
 
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Ponzio

Ponzio

Audioholic Samurai
What are you saying?

I don't follow. If he is from teh right of the DNC he is a centrist in the national debate.

//??????????????????
I believe if you look at his voting record in the Senate you'll agree or maybe not.

One mans ceiling is another mans floor.
 
eljr

eljr

Audioholic General
I believe if you look at his voting record in the Senate you'll agree or maybe not.

One mans ceiling is another mans floor.
I can't follow what you are saying. Can you be plain. Thanks
 
adk highlander

adk highlander

Sith Lord
I can't follow what you are saying. Can you be plain. Thanks
He saying that historically Biden has voted more on the fiscally conservative side and had many views that fell in the center and worked with Republicans.
 
chris357

chris357

Senior Audioholic
...


I think we'll need to start with protesting!

We can bring guns and get better media attention - how cool would it be to have a picture of me looking tough with my assault rifle in the newspapers?!
Whats an Assault rifle?
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
...


I think we'll need to start with protesting!

We can bring guns and get better media attention - how cool would it be to have a picture of me looking tough with my assault rifle in the newspapers?!
Protesting only goes so far- what happens after the protesters lose interest, which seems to have happened lately. It's time to start negotiating when that happens. I had a door and window open last night and heard very little noise- that's a huge change compared with the nights during the protesting. I heard a lot of cars driving recklessly, gunfire, horns honking.....

Going to a protest with a gun is OK if it's concealed, I guess but openly carrying is a case of "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should"- it changes the whole dynamic of the situation and makes people do things they normally wouldn't.
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
Protesting only goes so far- what happens after the protesters lose interest, which seems to have happened lately. It's time to start negotiating when that happens. I had a door and window open last night and heard very little noise- that's a huge change compared with the nights during the protesting. I heard a lot of cars driving recklessly, gunfire, horns honking.....

Going to a protest with a gun is OK if it's concealed, I guess but openly carrying is a case of "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should"- it changes the whole dynamic of the situation and makes people do things they normally wouldn't.
Glad things in your neighborhood have settled a bit. I feel for ya. I spent 5 days in Milwaukee in 1991 and it was the best city I had ever visited, with the nice old beer halls (or whatever you call the old bars with dark hardwood timbers and that "Old World" ambiance) ... and wonderful smells of beer, chocolates, pastrami, etc. Of course, my friend/tour guide did not have reason to show me the bad side of Milwaukee, but my last visit (when you gave me the list of audio shops to check out) encountered neighborhoods that had fallen into decay, but were clearly once very pleasant!
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Glad things in your neighborhood have settled a bit. I feel for ya. I spent 5 days in Milwaukee in 1991 and it was the best city I had ever visited, with the nice old beer halls (or whatever you call the old bars with dark hardwood timbers and that "Old World" ambiance) ... and wonderful smells of beer, chocolates, pastrami, etc. Of course, my friend/tour guide did not have reason to show me the bad side of Milwaukee, but my last visit (when you gave me the list of audio shops to check out) encountered neighborhoods that had fallen into decay, but were clearly once very pleasant!
It's not my neighborhood that had this stuff going on, it was the surrounding area- the sound carries well. I'm in a suburb at the North border of the city.

This was a great city but the local leaders have one set of goals and the people have other needs. They spend money on things that aren't needed like it has always been at the top of the list and skimp on what's needed. The trolley is a good example- there was no demand for it, but the Mayor wanted it in the worst way, so he got it and when they saw that there was no way it would support itself, the local casino stepped up and paid for ridership for a whole year. Once that's done, and I have never seen one of the cars with a large number of riders, I expect it to be in deep doodoo until someone else fires up for free tickets. The Mayor wants to expand it, too. Sure, it has riders at some times (well, it did before COVID), but that's more because it's free.

Sounds like you were around Old World Third Street- if you remember a place called 'Mader's' across from Usinger's and it was just West of the river with a small park that has a stage adjacent to the water. The old craftsmanship was incredible and a lot of those places still exist, but some have been lost. Ambrosia Chocolate has moved, unfortunately, but the smell was a good thing.
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
Sounds like you were around Old World Third Street- if you remember a place called 'Mader's' across from Usinger's and it was just West of the river with a small park that has a stage adjacent to the water. The old craftsmanship was incredible and a lot of those places still exist, but some have been lost. Ambrosia Chocolate has moved, unfortunately, but the smell was a good thing.
I honestly don't remember any specifics, but that sure sounds right!
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
I honestly don't remember any specifics, but that sure sounds right!
If you smelled chocolate and sausage, I can almost guarantee you were close. You probably smelled beer being brewed, too.
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
You know dam well that's not what I meant. Lets not be facetious here.

I do believe, to an extent, that they would be less susceptible to graft/corruption if they were earning a wage, commensurate to their skills. Wouldn't you?

I imagine some truly come into the job thinking they can make a change for the best but are soon disabused of the notion watching the pigs at the trough, while they go hungry.
If they want higher pay, they can always leave office and let someone else take the financial hit. They determine their own pay- who the hell let that happen? They only work during part of the year, they have protections that we don't...hell, they even have this-


Paying members of Congress for favorable influence is bribery, plain and simple.

Who determines their skill level and pay? They do. The only others who get to do this are people who own a company. Congress doesn't own anything, but they're making us pay dearly for their decisions.
 
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