Are Americans paid to serve politicians, or are politicians paid to serve American citizens?
Also, who pays their saleries?
Update:"In 1789 Congress fixed the salary of the President at $25,000 per year, the salary of the chief justice at $4,000, and the salary of an associate justice at $3,500.
The President's salary was raised to $50,000 in 1873 and to $75,000 in 1909. From 1949 to 1968 it was $100,000, from 1969 to 2000 it was $200,000, and in 2000 it was increased to $250,000. The salary is subject to federal income tax. Since 1949, Presidents have also received an expense account of $50,000, which in 1951 was made subject to federal income tax. In 1906 Congress authorized $25,000 annually for traveling expenses, a sum that it increased to $40,000 in 1948 and to $100,000 in 1969. That year the President was also given a $12,000 entertainment allowance."
http://www.answers.com/topic/salary
The President currently makes $400,000 per year.
The current salary (2008) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $169,300 per year.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa031200...
Update 3:This does NOT include the litany of freebies.
Comments
I pay them good money to do what I say.
If by politicians you mean elected officials at all levels of government, then the answer would be they are paid to work for American citizens their salaries are paid with tax dollars.
Politicians paid to serve American citizens and they get their salary through taxes.
don't forget franking privileges! That's one reason incumbents have an edge to be reelected....When I lived in Chi, the office holders were the best that money could buy....isn't that where Obama is from??? Puller58: it's Neither-nor OR Either-or.....just a reminder in case you skipped class that day:)
We pay their salaries, but some people do work for politicians.
Why do you enjoy starting trouble?
To answer your question it goes both ways, and the tax payer pay their salaries.
Politicians are paid by American citizens they serve themselves. We need term limits now.
Obviously the founders intended for them to serve us.Unfortunately the infection of corporatism, brought on by conservative policies , has brought us to the point where most of them serve special interests.
well dude,after 50 + years of public education,they managed to convince the functional morons coming out of that system that they work for the government.should obama win,it will become gospel.
politicians are paid to serve american citizens