The internet is always buzzing with articles on where to work to get the biggest bang for the buck. The things that are usually considered are pay, work schedules, company culture and the like. Google and Apple always rate at the top based on these parameters. But I'm here to tell you that the bloggers are missing the greatest opportunity in America: working for the Congress of the United States.
Let's start off with pay. According to a recent Fox News article, the average member of Congress makes $174,000 dollars a year (that's before the pay increase of $900 that's due to happen automatically). House speaker Boehner will see a pay increase that will take him to $224,600 a year and Vice President Joe Biden, will receive a whopping $231,900 after his raise. Those are just the highlights.
Now for the work schedules. This information was gleaned from the 2013 1st Session Congressional Calendar. In January, the House will be in sessions for 8 days. The good news is that they get to make it up in February when the House will be in session 11 days. So, for the first two months of the year our representatives in the House are scheduled to work 19 days. The average working stiff, making less than $50,000 a year, will work an average of 20 days a month so the House of Representatives are only working half time and making almost 4 times as much money.
What's wrong with this picture? They are supposed to be public servants, but it is obvious that we are serving them. Regardless of the economy, they get a raise. Regardless of their approval rating (under 20% right now) they get a raise. I think it's time that public servants became just that and volunteered their time to serve. Politics should not be a career but an avenue to give back to your country.
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