Blog Archives  Institutions are still important, even in America
I try not to venture into American politics much on this blog
but there is one thing that’s really bothered me that I haven’t
seen addressed elsewhere.  I know this is somewhat outdated, as
Rick Perry is yesterday’s news, but why did no one challenge him
on the idea that he would cut Congress’ pay in half?  “The idea
that [a congressman or woman] makes three times what the average
family makes is really obscene,” he said. “[They] need to have
their salaries cut in half, they need to spend half as much on
their budget, and they need to be in Washington half the time.”
It is somewhat depressing that in no debate, no member of the
media, or no other candidate, bothered to ask Perry where in the
Constitution the president has the authority
to determine congressional pay.  If someone did, Perry’s famous
three branches of government mishap would have have become his
second most embarrassing debate moment.  That’s because the
president does not deter