newsobserver.com projects - Kentucky - Comments

Re: N.C. legislators have smaller salaries

rangerking1993 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:01:55 -0500

I don't understand how we expect everyone to get involved in politics (or at least have a shot) when the pay for legislators is too low. Either someone has a working spouse who makes enough money or the individual is wealthy to begin with. If someone does not make enough or holding another job to cover costs is not possible (such as teaching) is not democratic as people are excluded from the process. Even the U.S. Virgin Islands pay their legislators more.

Self Government Cost, you Knownothings !!

riverrd — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:45:28 -0500

How dumb can most of you people be!! Democracy and Self-government cost! This is no longer a state of a small number of farmers and craftmens as it was when it was formed out of the wilderness! We cannot rely on a few 'Gentleman Farmers' to gather for a few weeks each year to past tariffs and laws against stealing horses, at their own expense. This is the 21st Century with 21st Century problems and needs. Governing this great state is a Full Time Job in need of Full Time Legislators and they need and must be paid as professionals! And it means a larger salary financed by taxes, yes I said TAXES! The acts of our Legislature have a deep and profound effect on our lives and I want the best we can elect to make these laws. Those of you who scream 'NO NEW TAXES' at everything, and I use this term with all due respect, are idiots! You people are just true-believing, Flat-Earth Republicans that cannot understand the world in which you live. If you depend on a doctor or lawyer or teacher, then you want the best you or your family can afford. The same applys for your government. Grow up and become educated on how self-government works!

Re: N.C. legislators have smaller salaries

tangoz — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:03:43 -0500

Wow now we kmow why California is so screwed up and so deep in debt. Maybe they need to take a 20% pay cut to help their multi billion dollar debt.

Re: N.C. legislators have smaller salaries

robdarich — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:10:11 -0500

what's popular now is attribution and pay-for-performance. If that was the case there'd be less comparison with the uncorrelated and possibly a call to have legislators paid for what they're worth (I would suggest they owe us money).

Re: N.C. legislators have smaller salaries

agroen — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:06:44 -0500

New Hampshire, which has the largest legislature, also has a unique pay system for it's House of Reps. It pays $100/year to each Member. Ouch.

http://www.csg.org/about/documents/PagesfromFebruaryStateNews.pdf

Re: Tax expert: Ken., La., Ark., but not W. Va.

tangoz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:47:51 -0400

West Virginia was separated from Virginia at the point of a gun and remained separated due to feelings of the people in the mountains toward maintaining the union. I do believe in recent history, non-binding resolutions in both states were asking about joining the two Virginias back together.

Re: The definition of Southeast

awbeal — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:01:04 -0400

Your list of Southeastern states is reasonable. I usually think of the Southeast as the old Confederacy minus Texas. That would exclude Kentucky.

You may want to ask John Shelton Reed (http://www.unc.edu/depts/uncspeak/reed.html), prof. emeritus at UNC-CH. I once heard him lecture on how people define where the South is and who is/isn't a Southerner. Very interesting.