Alright! Let the fun begin. Now we get into the part of the Constitution that clarifies just what our elected representatives can do and what they are supposed to do.
First, however, let us discuss their compensation.
Section. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
So, we see that their compensation for service(s) shall be, ..."ascertained by Law...."
Let me ask you a question. Who makes and passes the laws? Would that not be the same people who get paid by that law? Isn't that kind of like leaving the hen house door open and inviting the fox to visit?" No wonder they make more as our servants then we do as their employer. No wonder that they get a raise every year even during a depression while you and I can't get a raise - not even a cost of living raise to your social security benefit. BUT, your congress people, almost all of whom just happen to be wealthy vote themselves a raise every year. Why?
I contend that enough is enough. A salary or a contract price for their services should be set by the citizenry and should be commensurate with the average wage of the average American citizen.
I remember back in (I believe it was August 9) 1974 when Richard Milhouse Nixon left office he said that it was impossible for a man to live on $50,000 a year. While in office, however, he proclaimed that a family of four could live comfortably on $15,000 per year. Oh my how things change when the shoe is on the other foot.
I believe now is a good time to discuss a term called "Status." Status, I contend, was established by the Declaration of Independence when Thomas Jefferson enumerated the natural order of things: God created man, man created the Constitution, the Constitution created the government (a Republic). Hence, in the order of things, man (you and I) sit on top of the government. Government is there to secure our, "... life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness..." (absent of government interference - protected by those who serve us; our government representatives).
So the hierarchy of status would be established as follows:
1. Free born citizen of this country with all of the Constitutional rights availed and accorded
at all times with NO rights taken away at any time.
2. Civil Servant: A person who gives up his absolute rights of a Free Born citizen for a period
of time while he/she serves the needs and protects the inalienable rights of the Free Born
citizen. These servants include elected government officials, those who work for those
officials, other government employee's and the military.
3. Political Refugees: Those people who have asked for political asylum from their own
government; and are here under privilege without all of the benefits accorded to a Free Born
citizen.
4. Legal Alien Status: A person granted entrance into this country to live and work who is
not a citizen, but after a period of time may apply for citizenship. These people are here
under PRIVILEGE not RIGHTS!! This privilege may and can be revoked at any time
without cause. They are guests in our country, that's all!!!
5. People here under a "Visa": These are usually foreign people who have come to this
country to either go to school or work on a temporary basis for six months at which time
their visa expires and they are either required to leave leave our country and return to their
country or go though the visa process again and gain another six months in our country.
They are not and should not be granted the rights you and I have as Free Born citizens.
6. Illegal Alien: An outlaw in our country who has no right whatsoever to be in our country.
He/she has no status - zero standing in our society. They have broken our laws and need
to be tracked down and deported. They cheated to gain entrance into our country. They
jumped the line. Other people apply to migrate to this country (God Bless them and
welcome!). They fill out the paperwork and stand in line. Illegals have no Constitutional
rights regardless of what the ACLU proclaims!!
Okay, now that we have established that government slaves, our civil servants our of a lesser status and are there to serve and protect, I think that we should establish the remuneration for their service. They should not be allowed to establish their pay grade.
Here is my proposal. I would argue that most congressmen and senators are pretty much independently wealthy. I propose, therefore, if a congressman or senator has a net worth of one million dollars or more that they should serve without monetary compensation. If their net worth is less than one million dollars but more than 500,000 dollars, they should receive minimum wage. And, if they are the average "Joe" living from paycheck to paycheck, like the rest of us, they should receive what the average American citizen earns.
Also notice, "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."
Definition: "Emoluments" : The lawful gain or profit that comes from holding office.
In other words, NO DOUBLE DIPPING. With our professional politicians these days, I don't believe that we have to be concerned about them working two offices. It's hard enough to get them to work one.
I believe the bigger problem lies in them taking huge sums of money from lobbyists groups and selling their constituency down the river for untold profits through bribes.
What say you?
I look forward to your input.
Until next time, I am Eldee Charles Spratt, "The" American Patriot.
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