Gotta love Politicians ...

[2fast4u]

folks, heres a little anecdote about how politicans are concerned about us, those who they claim to represent contra themselves. yes, you can stop laughing now. story goes here ... :mad:

our parliament (state of baden-württemberg where i live) had the infamous idea that they needed a raise by a nice little 2,4%. not that they did jack to deserve it, no. in fact the state is in some ... lets say economical trouble at the moment and so citizens would probably get slightly mad if they noticed that these guys are increasing their wage whereas they are telling us to watch for our money. smart as politicians are (or they just aint got no conscience, make your choice) they had a solution for this by claiming they are helping to further balance the budget because they arent raising their own wage as much as last time. :wtf:

by golly folks, we are being run by overprivileged, overpaid corporate puppets who dont need to worry about their healthcare of pension and are clearly not able to decide about their own income. and they are all the same!

now you tell me how in the hell these people are supposed to be concerned about the matters of common people?

:mad: :banghead: :fu:

[Kruno]

Politicians are underpaid as it is. I would hope that people suffer and the pollies get a higher pay and more bonuses off the tax dollars they "collect" off us that we work so hard for.

[vampireuk]

We have had the same with our local council, they gave theirselves a pay rise even though they have done nothing to deserve it:mad: If a politician wants a pay rise they should bloody earn it, and in a time of economic struggle they should not be giving more money towards their own greedy little pockets:mad:

[stncttr908]

I share your sentiments. It's a career and they'll do whatever it takes to make money, regardless of what they promise or how grandious their plans are.

There's an old joke that goes like this.

"What do you call 1,000 politicians at the bottom of the sea?"

"A start." :nutkick:

[Sazar]

why don't we.. the people... have a say in the pay raises ?

I am sure that in a true democracy the politicians being elected to look out for our best interests would put it to the people concerning pay raises since the money does come from us in the first place...

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by vampireuk
We have had the same with our local council, they gave theirselves a pay rise even though they have done nothing to deserve it:mad: If a politician wants a pay rise they should bloody earn it, and in a time of economic struggle they should not be giving more money towards their own greedy little pockets:mad:

Go talk to my dad, and tell me he does nothing

Spend an entire day sitting though the amount of CRAP he has to put up with because he feels strong enough to do something about the world he lives in. While working a full time job might i add :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[intercede007]

I just don't understand why lawmakers must dictate their own salaries. They work for us as I recall. We are their employers. And as if that is not enough, taxpayers pay for re-election campaigns. To me, that is saying that they have some right to that office. Like it belongs to them. Doesn't work that way. Belongs to me. And you.

I wish at my job I got to tell my boss "I am getting a raise. This is how much, and this is when. It's not up to you anymore." That would be nice. But ultimatly it's up to the big guy that owns the dealership I work at. You know, the guy that pays the bills, the guy that judges if I'm doing a good job or not.

Gee...kind of sounds like a politicians constituents, no?

[sytaylor]

For the record my dad (a polotician) abstained from voting on the pay rise.

[intercede007]

Abstention isn't exactly a no, is it?

It's more like an "Ehh..whatever you guys think."

Politicians aren't paid to abstain, they are paid to represent their constituents. And in a case like this, I don't think the people politicians represent were saying "Ehh..do whatever you want, it's OK with me."

Abstention votes exist so politicians can avoid a conflict of interest. In this case, the WHOLE THING is a conflict of interest. It should go to a referendum so the people can vote on it. But politicians are too smart for that.

[sytaylor]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=abstain

By its second definition he was choosing not to vote for the motion. ie. a local government members pay is none of his concern thats not why he does it... hence abstaining.

<edit> and another thing, anyone ever heard of inflation?</edit>

[vampireuk]

Originally posted by sytaylor
Go talk to my dad, and tell me he does nothing

Spend an entire day sitting though the amount of CRAP he has to put up with because he feels strong enough to do something about the world he lives in. While working a full time job might i add :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

The vast majority of them don't:p I don't really have the time to search through every name and decide if they do enough or not. Also I read that he was going to vote in favour of it.:confused:

[intercede007]

You're right.

Good man.

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by vampireuk
Also I read that he was going to vote in favour of it.:confused:

No, thats the courier who print garbage for fun. He defended the wish of councillors to get a raise this year in the wake of high inflation and an increased cost of living (reflected across many business salaries as well).

The courier printed an appology somewhere near the backpage in size 2 font about a week later.

[vampireuk]

Originally posted by sytaylor
No, thats the courier who print garbage for fun. He defended the wish of councillors to get a raise this year in the wake of high inflation and an increased cost of living (reflected across many business salaries as well).

The courier printed an appology somewhere near the backpage in size 2 font about a week later.

hehehe thats our good old courier:D they enjoy "quoting" people like that:D

[t6_shadow]

There was a Canadian Senator who lived full time in Mexico. How could he do that and make all those important senate meetings you ask? He didn't. He just never went. So there he was sitting out on his deck in Mexico collecting a paycheck with fear of being "fired" all because of one thing. There is a rule saying you don't have to show up for any meeting ever. So basicly this guy was gettting paid for doing nothing.

[StealthHawk]

Originally posted by sytaylor
<edit> and another thing, anyone ever heard of inflation?</edit>

Yeah, of course we have. But what makes politicians so special? Most people don't get pay rasies that offset inflation.

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by StealthHawk
Yeah, of course we have. But what makes politicians so special? Most people don't get pay rasies that offset inflation.

Since when? Its common practice here, this year i got a 3.8% rise (there was a 1% rise in national insurance tax), and the rest about covers inflation. Its the same everywhere afaik. It was made common practice here during the 70s when inflation was at 30 and 40% :eek:

[vampireuk]

This year I got a ummm *attempts to work it out* probably around 0.001% rise

[2fast4u]

Originally posted by sytaylor
Since when? Its common practice here, this year i got a 3.8% rise (there was a 1% rise in national insurance tax), and the rest about covers inflation. Its the same everywhere afaik. It was made common practice here during the 70s when inflation was at 30 and 40% :eek:

im getting a certain percentage raise every year as well. but the case is completely different. politicians get to decide on their own wage completely free and not dependant on what they did to do it. iirc the folks in your city council got themselves a raise about 50% or something. you cant seriously call that appropriate.

besides, other people are working full time as well so dont pity yer dad so much. other people dont get this kinda money for their full-time job, not to speak of free healthcare and free f'ckn pension. aint it great if you dont need to worry about all this annoying sh|t that usual people have to deal with?

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by 2fast4u
im getting a certain percentage raise every year as well. but the case is completely different. politicians get to decide on their own wage completely free and not dependant on what they did to do it. iirc the folks in your city council got themselves a raise about 50% or something. you cant seriously call that appropriate.

besides, other people are working full time as well so dont pity yer dad so much. other people dont get this kinda money for their full-time job, not to speak of free healthcare and free f'ckn pension. aint it great if you dont need to worry about all this annoying sh|t that usual people have to deal with?

it was less than 50% and it took the yearly salary of a basic councillor up from about £12k pa to about £18pa still well below national average.. for a job that if done properlly is full time. I've seen it first hand. Oh and healthcare and pension, thats not true for uk local councillors.

[RogEngland]

Wow what hate you heap on us mere mortals just because we actually get off our butts, get elected and have the nerve to receive a token allowance for it! Thanks to my son for sticking up for me but perhaps a few hometruths, if u can actually listen, are in order.

As a local councillor I get about 8,000 now (after a rise) but don't forget to take NI and tax off it! Yes it did go up by 43% but only on an INDEPENDANT PANEL'S recommendation and after I, and some others, had made sure there was no rise for the 4 years before. Oh where were u experts then? Where were the pats on the back for taking NO RISE????

I never claim for petrol, I flatly refuse to go to conferences (whereas many do) and if there are so many "free lunches" then how come I lost 18lbs last year??? I get nothing towards my computer which I use or on costs and I do all my correspondance from home. No I'm not complaining, I enjoy it especially helping those less able to stand up for themselves.

Abstaining, well isn't that what most of you do at every election? I did speak out against such a high rise in one go but I sure as hell wasn't going to give the local rag an excuse to claim they changed my mind! No they didn't apologise they said, in tiny print, that I had abstained. Unfortunately as a mere telecoms engineer taking on a national company, which owns many local papers, I have no chance of sueing them.

And, especially vampireuk, if you're all so much better, if it's such an easy and cosy life, why haven't we seen your name on the ballot paper.

Oh and a pension and health care don't even get a look in for local councillors in the UK.

Next topic????

[intercede007]

Wow gee, I'm glad you have such a high esteem for your constituents. I'm sure they'd love to hear that you think them lazy for not entering into public service. That would probably do WONDERS for your public image. :rolleyes:

Ohh....and I vote. Good thing we live in differant countries.

[vampireuk]

Originally posted by RogEngland
Where were the pats on the back for taking NO RISE????


Because the evening courier quoted you saying that you were going to accept the rise when you did not, blame them :p

And, especially vampireuk, if you're all so much better, if it's such an easy and cosy life, why haven't we seen your name on the ballot paper.

I never said I would be better;) I'm just using my democratic right to free speech, of course we could always pack you off to North Korea if you do not want to here any criticism of the council. I hear it's sunny there this time of year:D

if u can actually listen

wow, your first post in this thread and you are already assuming people won't listen, nice:rolleyes: oh and nobody here claimed to be a expert, they were just offering their opinions on the subject. Economy or first class?:angel:

Another edit: Read over the thread again and you will notice there is no personal attack on you at all:thumbsup:

[RogEngland]

I'll go to North Korea if u'll go to Cuba, where it's also sunny! Hmmm notice u mention a country of no free speech. Oh and can I quote u to the courier, they claim they made it clear which way I'd voted??????

[vampireuk]

Originally posted by RogEngland
I'll go to North Korea if u'll go to Cuba, where it's also sunny! Hmmm notice u mention a country of no free speech. Oh and can I quote u to the courier, they claim they made it clear which way I'd voted??????

meh I can get the cigars here so there is no need to go;) I have no idea what the courier printed after that quote on the front page, they probably printed a follow up that needed hubble to read it.