We all know that the current atmosphere in Washington, D.C. can be described as dysfunctional.  I’ve been giving a lot of thought to ways that our dysfunctional political system could be fixed.  Here’s what I’ve come up with.

8 Solutions to the Dysfunctional Political System in America

Today, I'll expand on solution #4:

Cut Congressional Pay, Benefits, and Time Congress is in Session—Members of the Congress

certainly wouldn’t like this, but let’s remember nearly 50% are already millionaires. If we can

take out the graft from lobbying and cut the pay and benefits and retirement, maybe we can get

some people elected who are actually interested in solving America’s great problems and not

just looking to fatten their bank accounts at the expense of the American taxpayers. Congress

should be part time and they should be held to account if they aren’t able to get the job done

in their allotted time frame. Let’s look at this scenario. Let’s say the Congress is in session

from January through March, the month of June, and again in October and November up to

Thanksgiving. Perhaps we should make it that all members of the Congress are paid $30,000 per

year for this part-time service or a per diem. The rest of the time, they need to go back to the

districts they represent and their jobs. If you work for someone else, your employer must hold

your job for you while you are serving in the Congress. While you’re back home, you’re going

to be hearing a lot from the people of your district and you’re going to have to explain to them

what was accomplished while you were in Washington, D.C. With this scenario, no one is going

to be getting rich from public service. Isn’t that how our Founding Fathers envisioned this? Isn’t

that, in fact, how they did things? In the early days, members of the Congress received a small

per diem of $6.00. They didn’t start getting paid a salary until 1855. Who’s going to accomplish

more—the Congressman only making $30,000 per year and having to work the normal job as

well or the Congressman who makes $174,000 per year and does this for a living with more

benefits from lobbyists? I think more gets accomplished by someone who isn’t financially

motivated for being there. If you’re going to serve as a Congressman and only make $30,000,

you’re probably there because you want to be there and you feel you can make a difference.