Why aren't members of The United States Congress held to the same work standards as other Federal employees?

If I only work 3 days of the week, when I am expected to work 5, I will not keep my job very long. Granted, I am not a Federal employee, but I know many people who are and this standard applies to them as well. Why is Congress held to a different standard? They have the responsibility of legislating the laws of our country and they can't show up for a full work week? This is ridiculous.

Who do you think makes the standards? We, as the voters, can fire them at any election, but most often, re-elect the useless bastards. We have ourselves to blame for their excesses. They know they have almost limitless job security, barring some huge scandal or something of that nature. Come election time, we just mark the incumbent box and go on because we don't want to be troubled with making an important decision.

Be careful what you wish for.... this gives them less time to screw stuff up.

Although they are so busy with "investigations" that they are not doing anything else anyway.

true, very true, but as long as we remain the most powerful country in the world, i will assume they are doing at least SOMETHING right and will keep my complaining to a minimum. PLUS, alot of them are like 900 years old.

Because members of Congress have set themselves of as a privileged royalty class in our society. They've long forgotten that they're supposed to be public servants, and don't see the need for being held to any standard, moral code, or ethical behavior. They work little, accomplish less and collect unjustified salaries and perks. Everything about Congress is ridiculous, fraudulent, wasteful and insignificant. -RKO- 07/27/07

I agree it is ridiculous but let's face it that's just the way it is and unlikely it will change. Congress may be the only work group that sets its own hours, conditions, benefits and pay. It is unlikely to change because Congress is the only one who can change it. Certainly Congress deserves and needs some special consideration but to me it looks like they have gone way too far.

simple, they (congress) make their own rules

I think members of Congress should be a volunteer position, not paid. They should hold jobs just like the rest of us. Didn't the men who signed the United States Constitution have jobs?

This would eliminate all the lobbyist throwing there money around buying votes.

But since its this way, aren't we there boss? Why do we continue to settle for things that disturb us? If your really that ticked off about it, do something. Stand up for what you think! This is how laws change!

because they operate under the "do as I say, not as I do" policy....

They ought to be held to the same standards as any employee. If they suck at their jobs (which they do) they ought to be fired. Maybe we're just not very good bosses.

Though I am inclined to share your sentiment, I have gone through the mental exercise of playing devil's advocate on this topic before.

Most Senators and Representatives are working in their elected roles at a much lower rate than they make in their private lives.

Whether their motivation for doing so is altruism or power, it is actually a positive to have independently wealthy Congresspeople. To a man who is fretting about his child's college tuition, a monetary bribe is VERY meaningful.

Of course, questions of motivation are speculative. Obviously, based on what we know from corruption scandals over the couple hundred years (regardless of party), you never can be sure.

Look at Harry Reid (1). A guy who was already plenty wealthy, but somehow managed to make a huge profit on a land deal. Could be he was just lucky and it was a coincidence that one of the sellers was a developer who was benefiting from a government land swap that Reid supported.

Anyway, $165,200 sounds like a big annual salary, but among well educated, executive level people, it is not so outrageous. See below (2) for some data on what college professors are making these days.

My inclination is to hope that nobody in Congress went through the trouble to get there for the sweet salary. If they are working at a loss, but doing so in order to serve the nation, that isn't such a bad deal.