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1 in 5 canadians are dum dums
I'm not Canadian and I don't know the details of the situation, so excuse me if I'm wrong on this, but I think MP pay is a complex issue. It's easy to say "they get paid way more than the average person, of course they don't need a pay rise" but I think it's important to find a balance between that and paying enough that becoming an MP is an appealing option for intelligent, driven people. If they have a choice between an median salary as an MP and 15x the pay in the private sector, the most brilliant people are going to be drawn towards the private sector purely for financial reasons.
It's also important that they're given enough financial security that there's no risk of their finances being used as leverage against them. Some politicians will always just be corrupt and open to bribery or "lobbying", of course, but you don't want politicians that don't have their own money from other sources being put in compromised positions because of their finances. And you don't want politicians looking for other sources of income rather than focusing on their primary job.
Like I said, I don't know the details. Maybe Canada has already found a good balance - where it's already appealing to the best and brightest, and where their no risk of financial issues for MPs - and MP pay rises would be unnecessary. I just thought it was worth mentioning the fact that there can be some nuance to the situation!
It's a complex issue. I dont think there's enough money in the world to prevent someone from being bribed since literal billionaires still desire more money. I also don't know if knowledgable individuals would become a politician even if it paid more than the private sector. An expert in the private sector is only criticized by other experts. When an expert becomes a politician their main critics are idiots who think they know better.
I truly think that anyone who wants to be a politician is unfit for the job. I've heard a unique idea of a "lottocracy" where government positions work like jury duty. Everyone has to serve in government for a short time once in a while. It sounds crazy but so does letting a bunch of corrupt sociopaths make the rules.
I truly think that anyone who wants to be a politician is unfit for the job. I’ve heard a unique idea of a “lottocracy” where government positions work like jury duty. Everyone has to serve in government for a short time once in a while. It sounds crazy but so does letting a bunch of corrupt sociopaths make the rules.
Lottocracy would be awesome in combination with very high MP salaries.
I've a better idea. starting at the end of their second term, we start voting whether or not to pension or execute them.
That's a pretty optimistic number.
The Leger poll asked Canadians if they support or oppose the upcoming MP pay raise. Results of the poll show (totals may be slightly off due to rounding):
62 per cent strongly oppose 18 per cent somewhat oppose 12 per cent somewhat support 2 per cent strongly support 7 per cent don’t know