Twenty-Seventh Amendment

[Congress Cannot Raise its Own Pay]

-Proposed by Congress on September 25, 1789; Declared ratified on May 8, 1992

"No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened."

This amendment ensures that members of Congress cannot raise their own pay. The only way their pay can be raised is after their term is up in which case a raise can be voted upon. 

The 200 years it took for this amendment to get ratified just seems to be a sign of how corrupt our government just might be. In my opinion, this is just proof of our government working for themselves rather than for the good of our society. I think the only reason this amendment was passed was because congressmen were starting to realize how annoyed their constituents were and that they would not be able to get reelected unless they appeased the public. 

This cartoon seems to be a very accurate depiction of our society. Although, especially during the current recession, the majority of America's citizens are getting poorer, our congressmen and other big-time politicians are just getting richer. 

Although congressmen cannot raise their own pay, they are allowed a "Cost of Living," which continues to make them richer while the rest of our society could use that money so much more. If that money were used say for our school system, then programs would stop being cut and teachers would be able to keep their jobs...the list could go on. 

This picture just proves my earlier point. Members of Congress just continue to make money while even our employed Americans are getting poorer. 

• How is it that these people keep getting elected to office? 
• Do they even care about benefiting America? 
• ...or are they just going to continue working for themselves and their own personal gains?