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Listen carefully to candidates for president
To the editor:
As a nation, we are once again subjected to yet another major election, the president of the United States. I, for one, have always enjoyed politics and have followed it for many years. I am interested in EVERY person who runs for this important office, watching as many of the debates and reviewing as many of the news releases that I can. Not so much interested in the individual "parties," i.e., Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc., but voting for the person that I feel could best lead our country in the next four years.
In years past, one of the hottest topics in the presidential debates is that of the economy, and balancing the budget. Lately, when listening to the voices of the people, I would say that the majority would agree with the English political theorist Thomas Paine when he said, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil, in its worst state, an intolerable one." We are always looking to rob Peter to pay Paul.
In other words, some government programs are going to be cut in order to lower the deficit. There is not enough time in the day, nor is there enough paper on the planet to write down ALL of the stupid programs that our government has been sponsoring throughout the years. I would say that if we stopped waisting our money on these programs that it would take a big junk out of the deficit. (How long does it take for ketchup to drip from the bottle? OMG give me a break; yes, this was just one of the programs we have been paying for).
I have yet to hear of a president or even a candidate openly declare that they would be willing to give up their salary and have it put toward the budget. I have never heard of any House or Senate member willing as well to give their salary and have it given toward the budget. Nor have I ever read where a speaker of the House, majority/minority leader volunteering their individual salaries as well. No, and I would suggest that we not hold our breath in great anticipation for any of these wonderful events taking place in our life time. It just won't happen.
So, allow me to enlighten you on the financial benefits that these government officials receive after they retire from official government office.
The salary of a retired president is $450,000 per year. The salary for a House/Senate member after they retire is $174,000 per year.
The speaker of the House will receive $223,500 after they retire. And the majority/minority Leaders will receive $194,000 per year once they retire.
By the way, not long ago, one of our United States senators was "released" from office over a sex scandal. Yes, you guessed it, he still receives his pension of $174,000 per year.
Now I ask you: Do you have any idea where we can cut costs?
It might be good also to consider this, and this really speaks bad for our government.
The average salary for a soldier deployed to Afghanistan is $38,000. And many of these soldiers' families are on food stamps and welfare. And, finally, the average income for seniors on Social Security is $12,000 per year.
So I would ask you, when you go to vote, please concern yourself with who is wanting to be our next president, to listen carefully to what they are saying, especially about the deficit, because it will eventually, if not already, hit your back pocket. When someone is running for State Senate and other government offices, pay attention to what they are saying, because it will affect you one way or another, like it or not. And finally, if you don't vote, don't complain! Your vote really does count, no matter if it is a county, state or presidential election, because believe me, the way the country is going now, you will not have this freedom much longer!