Do congressmen need a raise?

[-GAZKUL-]

That's £107,000!!!!!!

If only they'd been MSP's when Tommy Sheridan wanted to lower their pay to £25,000 If i ever make a time machine......

[ghostthegreat]

No they shouldn't get a raise. If they actually did a great job and got this country back on track instead of arguing back and forth constantly, then maybe a raise would be an option. Otherwise, no.

[Wio]

Their salaries are nothing in comparison to campaign costs. Rather then giving them a straight salary, just put a cap on how much of their campaign financing they can spend on themselves, and let contributors pay their salary.

[RyuTama]

They already make more money than the majority of America, and yet they still complain? They have power and influence over the country, they can lie and cheat and steal and easily get away with it, and yet they still complain? They tax the poor into poverty, they stretch the middle class to the point where it's almost non-existent, and they support the wealthy, just so they can turn back to the upper class later and say "I helped you earlier, now it's your turn to keep me in office so I can get richer too", and yet they still complain?

Yes, I understand that the people who make the decisions for our country are important people, but it's sad to know that our "leaders" are such schemers. They only seem to aid people when they know they'll profit from it, or when they run the risk of being voted out of office if they don't take action. They make spoiled children look generous in comparison.

"Oh dear, it looks like I can't get that 2012 Lamborghini... woe is me... oh well, I'll just tax the people who can't afford to pay higher taxes and hopefully I'll be able to get the 2013 one next year instead."

My question is, how would giving them a raise help the rest of the country? It seems like it would only help the upper class, crush the lower class, and stretch the middle class even further.

Edit:

TL;DR: I wouldn't suggest it.