Why people hate politics

[SoxFan]

This sort of crap is the reason people are cynical about the political process. Holding elected office should be about public service, not personal profit!

City clerk suggests pay hikes for all

MANCHESTER – City Clerk Leo Bernier is pushing for several hundred thousand dollars in salary increases for Manchester's elected officials, including a 40 percent raise for the mayor.

Bernier would increase the mayor's salary from $68,000 to $95,389. His proposal would nearly quadruple the salary earned by aldermen and would increase school board members' pay six-fold.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=City+clerk+suggests+pay+hikes+for+all&articleId=edfa5805-4d28-47fb-8372-ff912a7cb270

[iamahaingttta]

1. No, that's not why people hate politics.

That is not corruption. That is paying people a good salary to do a professional job. Personally, I think public servants should be paid quite well. That is not corruption.

People hate politics when they hear stories about, oh... mayors of large cities who have the police drive their mistresses around like taxi drivers. This is not that.

Pay them well, and they won't need to steal from the public. Don't pay them well, and the good ones will go into the private sector and the bad ones will steal our money.

[SoxFan]

2. I beg to differ

A part-time position doesn't warrant $20K per year. That's absurd. I served in the legislature and was paid $100 (you read it right) before taxes, the fee for my House license plates, and the bill for my business cards.

The aldermen raised property taxes seven years in a row. The only reason they didn't raise them again last year is because they raided a capital reserve account to pay for operating expenses. If you can't cut retired homeowners on a fixed income a break, you sure as hell don't deserve to quadruple your own salary.

And for the record, I'm being sworn in as a member of the Manchester Board of Aldermen in a few weeks. I'd benefit quite nicely from this proposal. But it's flat-out wrong. Five grand and city health care coverage is more than adequate for a part-time position.

[Renew Deal]

4. Every legislative job is different.

A lot of times it is a full time job after you get done with constituent services. It varies on responsibilities, population, and other factors.

[Renew Deal]

3. I'm not from NH so I don't know the situation, but...

sometimes it's justified. I generally don't like these pay increases, and I'm willing to judge each one. I live on Long Island. Nassau County legislators are paid around $37K a year for what is essentially a full time job. It's way too low. Some people are making a fuss about it. In this case it's worth it.

[SoxFan]

5. It's a volunteer culture

NH has a tradition of volunteer involvement in the political process. In general, it works well, although it is problematic in the state senate, which is a full-time job that pays $100 a year.

The Manchester Board of Aldermen (the city council) is a part time body. Each of the 12 ward aldermen representa about 9,000-10,000 constituents, with two additional aldermen elected citywide. For the most part, meetings are held in the evening, so there aren't too many conflicts with day jobs. Yes, you have to respond to constituent complaints, but in the age of email and cell phones, that's not a huge inconvenience. The aldermen currently make $5,000 per year, which really isn't out of line for a city of this size.

I don't like the idea of elected office being a lucrative, long-term gig. It's too easy for people to overstay their welcome, to start to ripen and ferment. Chalk it up to the Jeffersonian in me, but I think people should serve a few terms, then move up or out.

[Renew Deal]

6. You bring up good points.

This thread would have sunk without it. I've been thinking about term limits too. Some legislators are elected to districts that the other party can't win. The stagnation is a problem.