alt Hacker NewsHere's my hot take: politicians should be paid a lot of money, and in return they should be subject to limits on how they can invest, if they can invest at all. Remove the incentives that cause corruption and attract talent. I think it's a bit naive to say that public servants need to be earning a meager salary. Underpaid people don't stay in their roles very long.
Replies
johnmaguire • today at 5:00 PM
This is a fair and rational take, but I think it's hard to drum up political appetite for increasing your own pay.
bosie • today at 5:34 PM
> Remove the incentives that cause corruption and attract talent.
has it been shown that a salary would actually remove the incentives for corruption? maybe for some but greed is a strong incentive.
Unfortunately it’s like trying to pin down a greased pig…
Sure, forbid them from making investments. What about “consulting” work? What about private company ownership?
What about their spouse? Are they also forbidden from all activities? Family members? In-laws?
I feel like there are too many ways of self-dealing that would be hard to prevent.
It should be a social stimga that voters care deeply about. But voters would have to first care to vote…