I know this has nothing to do with marketing, well it kinda does.  You see, our elected officials have been marketing to us the necessity of bailing out the banks and major corporations in an effort to save our financial system.

Well, attached is a picture of these same people in action.

Really makes you sick to your stomach doesn’t it?  I have a better idea boys and girls.

Time to go back to the day were our elected officials serve their constituents instead of themselves. With all the joblessness and corporate belt-tightening, the teacher salary cuts, and so on, I think it is time to cut the salaries of our elected officials to a mid-level government salary schedule of a GS-12 / Step 10 or $97,000 a year. Still more than 90% of Americans now.

Annual Salary of a Member of Congress = $174,000
(Majority and Minority Leaders make more)
New Salary = $97,000
Savings = $77,000 per year
Times 100 Senators = a savings of $7,700,000
Times 434 Representatives = a savings of $33,418,000

Total Congressional Salary Savings = $41,118,000

I have more than a few friends that are Rotarians and I think their edicts fit in nicely here, not to mention we should all behave in this manner.  What you are saying or doing should meet these edicts:

1.  Is it the truth?
2.  Is it fair to all concerned?
3.  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4.  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Most importantly – SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Forget the bailouts of Wall Street, the Banks, and Fortune 100 corporations.  Forget the Jobs Bill.  How about we take those savings and create a real stimulus package for the people that paid the bills for the organizations that put us in this predicament in the first place, US.  Take these salary savings and reduce or eliminate the existing student loan debt of Americans.

What do you say?

Resources:

Picture courtesy of  Hassan Bawad: http://www.facebook.com/hassanbawab
GSA Salary Schedule: http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/html/dcb.asp
Congressional Salary Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives#Salaries