Out in the real world, pay increases are usually tied to performance. Do a better job, grab a better position, and make more money. It makes a lot of sense.
Unfortunately, Congress is not part of the real world. When you live off the largesse of the American taxpayer, the sky is the limit. No matter how terrible a job you do, you can always demand more.
Enter Florida Democrat Representative Alcee L Hastings. He's terribly concerned that the paltry $174,000.00 we currently pay our average congressmen is so low that "Morale" may suffer. Hastings complains that high rent has forced him to move to a "comfortable but not nearly AS comfortable" apartment, and he worries that members of Congress make will be unable to send their kids to college.
He even has the audacity to whine about high taxes.
Check out the video:
Oh sorry. That's not it. That's an older video of Representative Hastings explaining how your government works.
Here we go:
Again, the average member currently makes $174,000.00 a year and Hastings has been serving since 1993.
Now, admittedly, Hastings is listed as one of the poorest members of Congress. It must be incredibly difficult to spend your days surrounded by members of the gilded class, feeling like you're being kept away from the big paydays that some of your colleagues enjoy. Clearly, Hastings is looking to scarf up some of that sweet, sweet, "Clinton Money," but he hasn't found a way to grab the brass ring just yet.
So, since he's obviously a well-qualified individual, allow us to suggest a move to the private sector. Given that he has what we can only assume is an impressive resume and a deep skill set, he should have no problem finding employment that offers more than his meager government wages.
Of course, he'll actually be expected to produce something should he go that route.
...Maybe he’d better just stay where he is.
Out in the real world, pay increases are usually tied to performance. Do a better job, grab a better position, and make more money. It makes a lot of sense.
Unfortunately, Congress is not part of the real world. When you live off the largesse of the American taxpayer, the sky is the limit. No matter how terrible a job you do, you can always demand more. 
