"America's Safety Net Must Not Become a Hammock" . . .

[Triana]

[NightWatcher]

1. It's a threadbare hammock that doesn't support much weight

Whereas Ryan's Congressional pay sucks up what approximately ten families would get in assistance each year. That's not even counting his benefits or bribes.

[Triana]

2. I think Congress should be paid min wage. And no taxpayer-funded HC or retirement.

Elections should be publicly funded. Full stop. No corporate/think tanks/wealthy donors - nothing. Take it out of taxes.

Let them use ACA, Medicare and save like the rest of us have to (try) to. And let them rely on Social Security like the rest of us have to.

MAKE. CONGRESS. EAT. ITS. OWN. CAT. FOOD.

THEN this mess will get fixed in a mere blink of an eye. Their "blind spot" when it comes to the 99% is from the fact that they don't have to rely on the services we do to survive. If they DID, things would change.

And so they should.

[fbc]

4. So all members of Congress should be independently wealthy?

Most of them are rich already, or become rich through corruption while in office. Cutting salaries isn't going to improve that situation.

[Triana]

5. They needn't be paid high salaries while in office

If most are already wealthy, then they don't need the money.

Paying them their damn salaries and HC and retirement for life is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Let them use their own wealth to retire on or rely on SS like everyone else has to.

I don't see where I said "all members of congress should be independently wealthy" - quite the contrary.

[Tanuki]

3. Ryan's safety net is the wealth inherited from his wife's family.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/paul-ryan-worth-millions-_n_1774346.html