It is unreasonable for anyone to be earning that amount of money and the fact that others earn more should not be used as a justification. Particularly considering how many additional benefits politicians receive alongside their exorbitant salaries.

[–] rastilin@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Personally I do want politicians to be earning enough that it stops being super easy to bribe them. If that means giving them a few million a year that's fine, because it's pocket change compared to the cost savings in terms of corruption.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 10 points 1 year ago

The other side of this is that higher wages increasingly attract people fixated solely on personal wealth accumulation, who themselves are hardly immune to bribery. Are these the personalities we need in positions of power?

[–] morry040@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

In first world countries, wages do not influence susceptibility to bribery.

In high-income countries, petty corruption is less common because wages are above subsistence level. Corruption in these countries, if present, involves more secret deals, brings about larger payoffs, and is more difficult to detect. Government wages will arguably be less effective to combat the latter form of corruption.
https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/higher-government-wages-may-reduce-corruption

[–] ZodiacSF1969@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

No one should be earning (up to) half a million a year?

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

If I could augment your argument a little...

The number itself isn't unreasonable. Its the disparity and 'quality of life' differences that yeilds, that i think are the key issues. Such as personal agency in life choices.

The worst parts of poverty are often about the choice constraints imposed.