this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
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I'm not Canadian and I don't know the details of the situation, so excuse me if I'm wrong on this, but I think MP pay is a complex issue. It's easy to say "they get paid way more than the average person, of course they don't need a pay rise" but I think it's important to find a balance between that and paying enough that becoming an MP is an appealing option for intelligent, driven people. If they have a choice between an median salary as an MP and 15x the pay in the private sector, the most brilliant people are going to be drawn towards the private sector purely for financial reasons.
It's also important that they're given enough financial security that there's no risk of their finances being used as leverage against them. Some politicians will always just be corrupt and open to bribery or "lobbying", of course, but you don't want politicians that don't have their own money from other sources being put in compromised positions because of their finances. And you don't want politicians looking for other sources of income rather than focusing on their primary job.
Like I said, I don't know the details. Maybe Canada has already found a good balance - where it's already appealing to the best and brightest, and where their no risk of financial issues for MPs - and MP pay rises would be unnecessary. I just thought it was worth mentioning the fact that there can be some nuance to the situation!
It's a complex issue. I dont think there's enough money in the world to prevent someone from being bribed since literal billionaires still desire more money. I also don't know if knowledgable individuals would become a politician even if it paid more than the private sector. An expert in the private sector is only criticized by other experts. When an expert becomes a politician their main critics are idiots who think they know better.
I truly think that anyone who wants to be a politician is unfit for the job. I've heard a unique idea of a "lottocracy" where government positions work like jury duty. Everyone has to serve in government for a short time once in a while. It sounds crazy but so does letting a bunch of corrupt sociopaths make the rules.
The old George Carlin quote applies. Think of how dumb the average person is, and then think about how half of the people are dumber than that.
Besides that one of the roles of a politician is they need to be able to clearly explain an issue to the public. Most people won't be able to do this.
Besides our system requires that ever MP win the majority of the votes in a community. If a community is choosing a sociopath to represent them, there isn't going to be any better way to prevent crazies from getting power. Mostly the problem is people thinking posting complaints on the internet will solve issues rather than getting involved at the community level.
Our system is designed around people working at the community level, if people were willing to put more effort into their community they would have more influence over politics. But the internet makes people feel like they shouldn't do that so they complain on the internet instead and then complain about their internet complaints aren't accomplishing anything.
yeah they don't do that. Just turn on C-span and listen for a bit.
Just watch watch Jordan Klepper's interviews with MAGAs for a bit.
Nah, I've had my fill of retards blathering listening to Freeland and Trudeau.
I think you've lost the thread here.
? Why, do the MAGA's clearly and concisely explain their viewpoints? If so, then yeah I guess i did.
Lottocracy would be awesome in combination with very high MP salaries.
I've a better idea. starting at the end of their second term, we start voting whether or not to pension or execute them.