I mean between the House and the Senate you’re looking at upwards of 500 people, or ~$200k per person per year. That’s senior software developer money, which if anything is too low for the highest authority of the current global hegemon.
I mean sure but “how to build the best possible society” and “how to build the best possible capitalist society” are different questions with different answers. The state is/can be superfluous under socialism, but under capitalism it’s an unavoidable arena for fighting over political power, and the less political leadership is paid the more that arena is rigged in favor of the rich. Also you could multiply those hundred million dollars by ten and it’d still be a rounding error in the wider US government budget, so it’s not like that money is actually competing with anything.
I disagree they should be paid that much. But software developers work significantly more than Congress. More days, more hours. In addition, when was the last time you were able to speak with your rep personally in recess? Never for me. My wife works 80 hrs at the peak of her busy season, and I’m supposed to pretend her job is worth less than Congress? A senior manager at her firm, one step away from partner, is worth less than a Congress person. I disagree.
It’s not about worth; it’s about opportunity cost. Worse paid people are easier to bribe. It just shouldn’t be possible to buy off people with that much authority with a luxury cruise or a cushy K-street job. You can’t do that with, say, the CCP and it shows.
I mean between the House and the Senate you’re looking at upwards of 500 people, or ~$200k per person per year. That’s senior software developer money, which if anything is too low for the highest authority of the current global hegemon.
If you’re an anarchist then I guess the view is that they’re all superfluous. And that money would be better spent being given to direct action.
I mean sure but “how to build the best possible society” and “how to build the best possible capitalist society” are different questions with different answers. The state is/can be superfluous under socialism, but under capitalism it’s an unavoidable arena for fighting over political power, and the less political leadership is paid the more that arena is rigged in favor of the rich. Also you could multiply those hundred million dollars by ten and it’d still be a rounding error in the wider US government budget, so it’s not like that money is actually competing with anything.
I disagree they should be paid that much. But software developers work significantly more than Congress. More days, more hours. In addition, when was the last time you were able to speak with your rep personally in recess? Never for me. My wife works 80 hrs at the peak of her busy season, and I’m supposed to pretend her job is worth less than Congress? A senior manager at her firm, one step away from partner, is worth less than a Congress person. I disagree.
It’s not about worth; it’s about opportunity cost. Worse paid people are easier to bribe. It just shouldn’t be possible to buy off people with that much authority with a luxury cruise or a cushy K-street job. You can’t do that with, say, the CCP and it shows.