[Grey Wolf]

Realistically, we shouldn't pay high level politicians anything. Even if they only serve one term, they can live rest of their lives on public speaking. IIRC, Clinton made a few million his first year out of office just off of speeches and the like.

[aldo_14]

At the very least, they shouldn't allow MPs to vote on their own pay.

[Grey Wolf]

Perhaps have the populace vote on the pay?

[Bobboau]

the difference between a terrorist and a soldier:
a terrorist  blows up a building to kill people.
a soldier kills people to blow up a building.

[Rictor]

sorry, I can't understand that last sentence Bobbaou

[vyper]

Tinny is just wrong. I refuse to justify any assault against stupidity.

[Bobboau]

oops left an 's' on blow, in "blow up"

[SadisticSid]

Highly-skilled public servants need to be paid competitively or they'd just go and work in the private sector which rewards skill with a higher wage. Equally though, incompetents who mess things up in power should have their pay severely cut. I'm not saying this should apply to politicians, but to the people who actually *implement* policy.

[Grey Wolf]

Personally, I feel we need to rebuild the government from the ground up. Little chance of that happening, however...

[.::Tin Can::.]

Might as well change the topic name...

Anyway, good to see it hasnt been set on fire and locked yet...

[Fineus]

Give it time, you've another 50 odd minutes before I go to bed - and I can't say when any of the other admins come on.

[Stealth]

LOL.  

[Liberator]

I'm with Greywolf to an extent.  The G'ment in entirely too large and needs some pruning.  As I see it the G'ment has 3 main roles:

1.  Ensuring that all citizens have a basic education(High School) and access to a Higher Education(Bachelor's Degree), however higher level education would fall almost entirely on the Student's responsibility

2.  National Defense, and I do mean Defense.  This includes withdrawing from the failed, "let's find yet another way to milk America's coffers and put her troops in harm's way" UN as well as upgrading and sealing both our northern and southern borders.

3.  Maintenance of Infrastructure such as the Interstate Highway system.

Everything else is superfluous and should be pruned.

[Rictor]

So, I take it this does not include "Lets go invaded so and so because we don't the way they're looking at us", right?

Fine by me.

For your information, the UN is not failed. Its one of the best institutions to be established in recent times. Its just needs some reforms, and a will of its own instead of being a puppet. Yes, the "peacekeeping" forces are notoriously inept, but I believe thats because various politicians decide to stick their nose where it does not belong.

Also, the US behind on its payments to the UN, so it could hardly be said that the UN is milking America's coffers. Just thought you should know that.