Paying Politicians More Than Their Employers Challenges Democracy

The Author: Sarjo Bayang

Being paid more than your employer is what democracy grants politicians

Rules of employment in politics permits job holders to decide their own wages without consulting the employer, taxpayer public.

Seeking to be employed in politics requires eloquence and power of speech. Beyond the fine words, accountability remains hanging in the balance.

Behind closed doors in the absence of taxpayers, politicians dish out huge portion from the national cake without baking more for everyone else.

Money income and lucrative benefits that make up the package politicians enjoy without seeking taxpayer approval can be mouthwatering.

Don’t forget that public office also runs with free space and high-cost maintenance budget allocation.

In the business world of profit making, productivity is measured by input and output balances. So much spent over given production cycles transforms into added gains for the establishment and stakeholders.

We are told that politicians are paid out of public coffers. It is however not clear how compliance in accountability falls in place.

While seeking employment, politicians draw long list of what they will deliver. Once in power, the list shortens to suit their immediate convenience.

By extension, accountability is not all about producing accurate recording of financial statements as is required for a trading cycle. In politics, promises made are meant to be fulfilled. That aspect of being accountable for what is promised hardly becomes a commitment.

Politicians are perhaps among job seekers offered open payslips to fill out in their desired wages. Above all, the power to rule your employer makes it even more different with traditional rule of employer/employee relations.

The pertinent question is about democracy being fair enough to empower the employee while employer is subjected to being ruled without proper consultations.

Democracy gives politicians generous choice to decide what they want. Are people being equal or better choices once they install occupiers of political office?