OT of an OT: Ethanol

[Suicide Junkie]

Does the US really need to spend as much on military as the rest of the world combined? (47%)

Raise taxes a little, and stop dropping so many of those expensive bombs on other countries.

[Atrocities]

How about this, raise taxes fairly, make the GD rich pay their fair share for a change, cut the pork barrelling and special interest money luandering, cut the salaries of the US Government including those over paid and mostly bloated senators and representatives. Sell the Military hardware and mothball the all of those expensive air craft carriers. Hell we only need one or two of them any ways. Shut down the Marine Corp, National Gaurd, and the Air Force and sell off all of their crap to other countries and use the money to establish my entitlement state!

[Fyron]

This thread was more interesting when it was about ethanol. Oh well.

[Renegade 13]

Suicide Junkie said:
...and stop dropping so many of those expensive bombs on other countries...

...and Canadians...

[Atrocities]

I think the topic of ethanol was about ran dry. But your right, it was more interesting than it is now.

[Renegade 13]

Imperator Fyron said:
This thread was more interesting when it was about ethanol. Oh well.

Problem is, ethanol has already been thrashed to death. Neat idea, might work on a small scale to reduce overseas oil exports, not feasible as a large-scale oil replacement. Bring on hydrogen!

[Will]

Just a bit of info on the salaries of top elected/appointed officials of the US government:
Code:

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President                             $400,000

Vice President                        $208,100

Senator                               $162,100

Representative                        $162,100

Majority and Minority Leaders         $180,100

Speaker of the House                  $208,100

Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court     $208,100

Assoc. Justice, U.S. Supreme Court    $199,200

---

While the salaries are higher than an average citizen's annual salary, you should also consider that it usually takes much more money than that to get elected in the first place. And also consider that the salaries are a pitiance compared to salaries of executives at most corporations. Makes you wonder why some people would even want to be in office, and definitely reminds me of something from THHGTTG: "To summarize: it is a well known fact, that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."

[Atrocities]

Thanks Will. I had no idea that they were getting paid so little. Man what I could do with a yearly salary of just $60,000.

[Renegade 13]

I think I have a new ambition in life...become the leader of a country. Look how much money they make! Not to mention the fact that it'd be an intereting job.

[StarShadow]

Will Said:

"While the salaries are higher than an average citizen's annual salary, you should also consider that it usually takes much more money than that to get elected in the first place."

Personally, I'm somewhat suspicious of someone willing to spend millions for a job that pays a couple hundred thousand...I mean, if they aren't in it for the pay, you have to wonder just what exactly, they are getting out of it. Bush's 'inner circle' could work for free and donate all their pay to chairity, and still not have to worry about money..