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I think $400,000 a year when you have absolutely NO expenses is not a bad wage, however, I would not debate that corporate CEO’s earn much more.
I don’t mind them taking a vacation occasionally but they should pay their own expenses, or, as you say, go to Camp David. How many people go on big extravagant vacations more than once a year? Some only get to go once in a lifetime.
You are right, it’s not AFO unless POTUS is on it, but it’s still the same plane and expenses. That reminds me, Air Force One is absolutely one of my Top Ten favorite movies. (Harrison Ford being in it doesn’t hurt any! ♥) I have to watch it every time it comes on. I could probably recite the dialog by now.
I can see both sides of this. The president does need to travel for business such as meeting other heads of state but that’s the only time it should be on our dime. Now I do believe he needs the secret service, etc but they don’t need to add in all the food, etc. He should have to pay a share of the expense if it’s a pleasure trip, same as for his wife and children if they go on trips without him.
I feel a president or any politician shouldn’t get full pension if they aren’t elected to a second term. If, as in the case of Carter, they run and don’t get re-elected it’s the same as being fired and tell me what company pays full pension if they fire someone after 4 years of work. Also a politician no matter what office needs to be in some office for a minumum of 20 years before collecting a full pension since that’s how most places of employment and the military work. It doesn’t all have to be in the same office.
Say John Smith is on the town council where he lives for 4 years then moves up to mayor for 8 years. He’s already got 12. If he then runs for senator and stays in office for 4 then runs for president and wins but only runs 1 term he’s now got 20 years so he gets full pension. Bill Jones starts out as state senator for 4 years then gots to US Senate for 4 years, runs for President and serves 8 years then he’s only got 16 years in a public office. Sorry, no pension for him. Then you’ve got Bob who runs for senate and serves for 8 years but isn’t elected on his 3rd run. No pension for him either.
Knowing this might make them listen to the people that elect them in office and do more than just sit, vote once in a while and bide their time to not only collect their pay but also get full pension. If they know they’ll have to return to the private sector and actually work for a living and live under the same laws the rest of us do then maybe they’ll take the working class into consideration when drafting and voting on those bills that do nothing but screw us over.
and how cool would it be to have a Prez like the one Ford portrayed. I’m looking for a leader – someone with convictions, a firm stand on issues, a guy you would gladly follow up the hill or into the trenches. Is there anyone out there like that?
I’ve always liked Israeli PM Netanyahu (sp). No wishywashy guy there.Personally, I feel that the POTUS should have one term, no re election. Then there is no campaigning. I also feel that there should be term limits on Congress and public office in general. Maybe 20 years max and NO pension. Although, I must say if Congress got Social Security, they would make sure it was solvent!!!
As for the POTUS traveling–he has no choice as he has to travel on AF1. He also cannot drive and really has no money to speak of, his money is held in trust. It makes it hard to go anywhere without a car or money!
As for the President– a known person is better then an unknown. I live in Pennsylvania where Republicans were elected to govenor and most of the legislature. Of course, he pledged no tax increase and kept his word. Then cut all the budget items especially education. So taxes have to be passed on the local level.
I fear that Romney will be for big business and the rich. Changes in medicare and Social Security will hurt many. It is a chance I cannot afford. JMHO–I do not want to ruffle feathers, just express my opinion.
I absolutely agree he should have access to AF1 for business purposes. It’s the private usage I object to, especially for vacations and campaigning. And I don’t believe all his money is put into trust, only his investments so he has no sway over any decisions that might affect whatever he owns. He still has his $400,000 salary to spend. Also, FLOTUS has money.
Term limits make sense to a degree but I think as president you almost spend your first term getting the feel of the job and some things just take a long time to enact. BUT, we should see something at least beginning to happen during those first four years. And, we DO have term limits for the president…two.
But we most definitely need election reform. The problem seems to be that either nobody knows how to do it, or, what they want done is not popular enough to get it enacted. So many problems in government and so little solutions. <sigh>
I will say this for Romney though, I think it’s time we have a business man as president. We’ve had way too many lawyers and I think the country would be run much better as a business than a court case. You have to admit, Obama really didn’t have much in the way of government running experience when he was elected. I think he was only elected on his charisma and promises alone.
Lastly, and I’ve said this many times before, I think the success of a man as president depends so very much more on the people he selects to surround himself with than the man himself. Regan was a perfect example of that.
I am from Massachusetts and will vote for Romney. I am not a huge Romney fan but I don’t dislike him either (I think he is a good businessman and we need that), but I just can not vote for Obama. He’s had his time and we need change and I won’t say anymore than that. I admit I don’t really follow politics all that much as I do not believe what most politicians say. I believe they don’t represent us; they represent themselves and doing what’s best for them. I am an independent; a free thinker. I use my common sense on each issue and come up with what I believe in or what I think is best, not what a party thinks I should believe. I also don’t really think there is much difference between Dems and Republicans anymore and people put too much stock in either party. I don’t believe the Dems are for the little guy anymore either. Instead of focusing on a particular party, we need to focus on the issues. There is too much division and pols try to get people all riled up instead doing what’s best for us. And that’s my own opinion.
if I get another robocall asking my political opinion/views, I’m going to toss my phone in the pool…I swear! They are illegal in Florida except for politics and charities. I can say without exeration that I have had at least 20 calls, usually at dinner time. And then add the live person calls I’d probably hit 30. I’m not even nice to them anymore, I just hang up.
Actually robocalls are illegal in any state with the exception of charities and political per the FTC
http://blog.usa.gov/post/30393077932/answering-your-questions-about-robocalls
http://blog.usa.gov/post/27845266413/what-to-do-if-you-receive-a-robocall
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