It's a fact - the United States is in economic turmoil: we currently Owe more than we make, our credit rating has been reduced for the first time in history and the dollar is well below 10% of it's value from 100 years ago.

The major parties and candidates are all fighting among each other over what to cut and who to tax - and we all have our own, perfectly valid, opinions. People rely on government assistance for real needs like food and shelter, our soldiers are laying their lives on the line every day and are coming home with real problems and a suicide rate higher than any other military battle in history & the average American makes less than $30,000 per year to feed their family, pay taxes and enjoy their lives. Still, sacrifices need to be made to restore our economy and return jobs - and as far as the accumulative opinion in washington is concerned - Nothing is off the table.

I think we can all agree on one thing:

Before even talking about cutting Social Security income of the elderly.

Before even thinking about cutting Veteran's hospital funding and military pay.

Before even debating the need to tax more and cut more from the budget.

The President, Congress and government officials elected to represent us should lead by example and cut their own salaries which are, on average, $173,000 (or 4 times) MORE than the average American makes ON TOP of Benefits and Pensions they make from previous government positions they have held at state and local levels - Before they even consider cutting ANYTHING else.

Salaries of Government officials: 

President of the United States - $400,000 Salary + $50,000 expense account per Year during term

Vice President of the United States - $192,600 per Year during term

Speaker of the House - $192,600 per Year during term

Majority & Minority Leaders of the Senate & House - $166,700 per Year during term

Senators & Representatives - $150,000 per Year during term

Cabinet Members - $166,700 per Year during term

 

Pensions of Government officials (what they receive after they leave office - for LIFE):

President: 191,300 per year for LIFE + Secret Service Protection for 10 years

Other Members: Average of $60,972 per year for LIFE simply for having been elected.

 

Mr. President, Members of Congress:

Please lead this nation by example and live within your means: IMMEDIATELY reduce your pay to a maximum of 1.5x the median income of the average American and refuse any publicly funded benefits and pension not related to the position you currently hold to better represent the hardships of the American people and those you send to war.

The Maximum a 20-Year Enlisted Non-Officer Solider can make - $63,212.40 per year (Average estimate of all deployed is: $38,000 per year).

The Average American - $26,364 per year (as of 2010)

The Average income on Social Security - $14,760

Based on this data - the MOST a Congressman/woman & President should make at the moment is: $40,000/yr.

 

Sources:

Military Income: http://www.militaryfactory.com/military_pay_scale.asp 

Median American Income: http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year=2010 

Median Social Security Income: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/13/~/average-monthly-social-security-benefit-for-a-retired-worker 

Presidential Income: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/3/2/102 

Congressional Income: http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/index.asp