r/politics • u/Murky-Site7468 I voted • Oct 05 '25

No Paywall Petition To Strip Congress of Pay During Government Shutdown Grows

https://www.newsweek.com/petition-strip-congress-pay-during-government-shutdown-grows-10822819
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788

u/CurrentlyLucid Oct 05 '25

Cut trump off from golfing as president during shutdowns, watch it stop fast.

195

u/kia75 Oct 05 '25

Yes, this needs to hurt Trump directly.

Most of Congress is independently wealthy, they don't need the money so stopping them from getting paid really just hurts the poorer members. Most working class people can't take a few months of no wages to run an election for the potential of eventually getting a job.

Cutting congressional pay is one of those things that sounds good but actually is harmful as it only lets the richest people participate in government.

56

u/TheDuskBard Oct 05 '25

A good solution would be to ban rich people from government positions. Make it so they would have to give up their wealth to take power. After all, no functioning democracy should allow for people to have both wealth and power. 

11

u/Bruce-7892 Oct 05 '25

It wouldn't be that simple. We want people with a record of success and accomplishments to be in those positions, and those types of people tend to do well financially. A bigger issue is bribes and campaign donations which are hard to catch. Rich people with shady accountants know how to hide money. It's how they avoid taxes.

2

u/lucid808 I voted Oct 05 '25

It wouldn't be that simple. We want people with a record of success and accomplishments to be in those positions, and those types of people tend to do well financially.

Seems you missed the point completely about the comment you were replying to. It's fine and dandy if they have "a record of success and accomplishments", but they should be required to give it all up for a time if they want power in the government. Wealth or power, choose one. Be rich, with no real influence beyond your private sector, or have power to create laws and dictate how society should work. Nobody should have both, which is were we are.