First thing any business does (or should do) when it's got economic problems is freeze pay increases.

But then, they're not really businessmen, are they? Instead, they're basically 'elected royalty', and thus not subject to the economic realities we face.

And really, what's a couple more million amongst the trillions already handed out by these bozos? Just feed a few more sheets of paper into the printers at the mint, and it's all good!

Worst, greediest, and most corrupt Congress ever!

Wasn't "Audacity" part of Obama's message.
They are only taking him up on that.

(Pelosi has to make-do on only $217,400.00/year?
Oh, the humanity!...)

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Well, not that they're not worried about putting food on their families or whether to buy food or medicine I'm sure they'll be able to actually start doing their jobs and pull their approval rating up the double-digits.

So why again is it bad to rag on CEOs making eight figures but perfectly okay to rag on congressman making six figures?

In a sane world, we wouldn't re-elect such people; but alas, what does that say about the citizenry of this country--that we just send them back up there. They need term limits and to be heavily audited.

Government has completely lost its mind. A pay raise?

Quiz:

Name 537 of the most secure jobs for the next 2 years... (Hint:435+100+2).

My home state (Texas) is sometimes ridiculed for only having a part-time legislature.

Apparently, the founding fathers of Texas couldn't fathom the need for grown men to be employed full-time doing nothing but making rules for the rest of us.

I often feel they were on the right rack, and sometimes regret they didn't follow the thought to its' logical conclusion.

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Parthenon -

The CEOs, at least, are single, expensive drones in companies that nominally produce a product revenues to COVER that expense - and we can either buy the product or not as the need or the fancy strikes us. And I'm thinking the number of them making eight-figure salaries is in the pretty low double-digits in the first place.

Congress, however, is a symbiote verging on a parasite - they take more and more from our financial system and give back less and less of value. Are they somehow more valuable when times are bad than when times are good?

(And if the answer to the above is 'yes' - is it to their best interest in that case to make sure times STAY bad for the rest of us?)

Dang. "produce a product that sells for enough to provide revenues to COVER that expense"

why again is it bad to rag on CEOs making eight figures

Nice strawman.

CEOs should be free to make as much as they want; as long as their business can support it and they don't come begging for handouts from the taxpayer during tough times.

If they do come asking for publically funded welfare from the welfare teat, then they most certainly can be criticized.

Congress is already on the public teat. It's outrageous that they get a raise during tough economic times.

If legislators didn't have the additional gravy of their war chests and benefits, I might have a little sympathy. Then again, maybe not.

Why certainly they deserve a raise.

Hard work achieving a 9% approval rating, dontcha know.

"So why again is it bad to rag on CEOs making eight figures but perfectly okay to rag on congressman making six figures?"

Less Nessman answered that pretty well, but I think you missed the hypocrisy in their actions there, Parthenon. The fact that congress is employed by us seems to escape them. Last time *I* got a raise it wasn't because I gave it to myself automatically. They didn't even want to sit and discuss their raises anymore, they just wrote a law that makes it automatic. They have to actively forfeit it.

So why again is it bad to rag on CEOs making eight figures but perfectly okay to rag on congressman making six figures?

CEO's don't have people with guns to force us to pay them. Congress does.
CEO's don't write their own salaries, they have to put it before a board of directors who can tell the CEO to pound sand. Congress does write its own salaries and makes it law to pay them.
CEO's only power is their ability to make money for the shareholders of the company, Congress has the power of the government and defying them can cost you your property, your liberty, or your life.

Have I been clear enough for you? Try using your head as something other than a door-knocker for a change.