Let's put politicians on 'merit pay'

Most of our elected officials do not work a full week or even an entire year.

These politicians earn more money for part-time work, including health insurance and other perks, than many taxpayers make with a full-time job.

The logic seems to be that their salary is commensurate to the enormous responsibility that goes with the job. Unfortunately, it appears they have been ignoring that responsibility.

Issues of late are said to be extremely complicated with no easy solutions. When some of these issues make it to the floor, there is a lot of debate with no action taken.

Issues of pay increases for politicians are never debated and are passed almost unanimously and take effect immediately. There is no time or process for voters to react (positively or negatively) to those increases.

It seems that politicians can only vote in a unanimous, bipartisan manner on their salary increases. Maybe a change is necessary.

Since many politicians like the idea of merit pay for teachers, then let's apply merit pay to politicians.

Salaries should be tied to what is actually accomplished during their time in office.

Taxpayers should have some input into political earnings. This idea might force politicians to do the job they were elected to do.

Taxpayers are grumbling about the high taxes they are paying. Yet politicians continue their thirst for more such as, higher property taxes in spite of an economic downturn along with increasing the sales tax.

The tough decisions mentioned earlier would apply to cutting governmental spending.

When the economy and taxpayers are having difficulty, the government should also experience financial difficulties.

I don't mind being outsmarted, but I do mind being out dumbed.

Wayne Oras Sr.

Schaumburg