For anyone wondering if the math actually backs up the meme: In 2026, the average member of Congress still makes $174k while the national average starting salary for a teacher is only around $46k. We’re essentially paying the people who make the rules 4x more than the people tasked with making sure the next generation is smart enough to understand them.
mothman83 on
The Politicians part is a HORRIBLE idea. This would guarantee only trust fund babies would take the job. Also, corrupt people dont become politicians for the SALARY, they do it for the connections and the insider trading. Keep the salaries the same, or even better increase them somewhat to make bribery less tempting, and instead make it illegal for politicians to own individual stock and to serve on the boards of corporations/ as lobbyists for 25 years after they leave office
PeptoBismark on
Politicians being easy to buy is part of the problem.
F9Phoenix on
Terrible idea. Last thing we need is more independently wealthy people running for office because they can afford to
mrjpb104 on
Politicians should be paid very well and that should be paired with campaign finance reform and stringently enforced anti-corruption and ethics laws that lead to very harsh penalties. You want people from all walks of life to run for office and be able to support themselves well, we just need actual fucking laws and real courts to keep corruption at bay
mrbutto on
CEOs couldn’t handle it.
Japjer on
Bolder idea: No elected official can buy, sell, or trade stocks. Any owned stocks or investments go into a blind trust.
Lobbying is capped and Citizens United is repealed.
Then: the annual salary for all elected officials is made the median income for the people they represent.
DoctorFenix on
That’s not what he said.
dpdxguy on
>AND OVERPAID TEACHERS, THERE WOULD BE SMARTER PEOPLE AND LESS STUPID LAWS
None of the people who could make that happen want “smarter people.”
Glowing_bubba on
Politicians make out like bandits even if you paid them 0
Lets_Eat_Superglue on
Pay teachers a whole lot more, hell yes.
Politicians, also pay them a whole lot more. I don’t understand why we think $175k is a lot of money for the top people running a multi trillion dollar budget responsibile for 330 million peoples lives. Especially considering they have to maintain two residences, organize and run campaigns every two to six years, do media, hire their own staff on a shoestring budget, keep lawyers on retainer…
I really considered jumping into local or state politics for awhile but I just couldn’t work out a way to make it work financially.
Okidoky123 on
Finally something intelligent.
Movedonnerlikeabitch on
That is way too on the money for government to let happen
Friendly-Hooman on
I agree with this idea, but I also think he’s an idiot in other things.
He also said that racism will go away if we stop talking about it and that we should get rid of Black History month. The logic is akin to thinking that things like rape and murder will go away if we stop talking about.
Mstryates on
Pay teachers more? Hell yes.
Personally I would rather pay politicians more but require that to be their only income.
Also, get rid of campaign fundraising.
Both-Leading3407 on
Treat Congress like Jury duty. A set time that you have to serve. You are chosen at random by voting roll and your job has to reserve your position but the US GOVT. Pays your Medical Stipend and housing and utilities. Free Phone service and car rental.
Malofquist on
#fewer
double297 on
Maybe teachers should vote for their own raises like politicians do.
Firm_Internal_9777 on
lol yeah, it’s like capitalism throws a party and fascism crashes it with a keg of hate and a playlist of greed fr
massacre898 on
This is a grand idea. I’ll ask God if he could put me in that reality
ClosPins on
Naive!!! If you underpaid politicians, this would hurt no one on the right wing (seeing as they get massive amounts of money from corporations and billionaires), while at the same time, destroying the careers of every politician on the left-wing.
Also, the right-wing always sabotages education every chance they get (studies show that, the more-educated a person is, the more-likely they will be to vote left-wing), so overpaying teachers gives the right-wing ammunition to cut education further. It doesn’t actually make education that much better.
One, if not both, of Morgan Freeman’s brilliant ideas make things worse, not better.
PythonVyktor on
Too many politicians and they’re paid way too much. Bunch of scam artists.
HarambeWest2020 on
# Bald idea
Cheesecake_Jonze on
Morgan Freeman (alongside Jim Carrey and Robin Williams) is a common target of fake quote attributions.
Whenever you see a quote from these guys, know that it probably started as a random guy on facebook or something wanting to make his own thoughts seem more important than are.
This seems to be the case here; Morgan Freeman has never said this on record
Worduptothebirdup on
I was just listening to a freakanomics podcast that was explaining how corrupt politicians keep entry level government salaries low. The purpose is forcing people to take bribes in order to keep their families fed. That way, everyone is on the take, and no one can be the good guy who calls the others out.
whhaaaaa on
At a certain level you should be given government housing and stipends but relinquish the right to own property for the rest of your life (President and Supreme Court at a minimum). That would filter a lot of bad actors but academics and servants of the people would still want the job.
Bigmac5150 on
But the rich people like the dumb people…because they make dumb choices.Â
GreyTheOne on
I agree with overpaying teachers, but what about underpaying actors?
Solenkata on
But then how will reach and powerful people exploit the masses?
30 Comments
‘Fewer’ stupid laws.
For anyone wondering if the math actually backs up the meme: In 2026, the average member of Congress still makes $174k while the national average starting salary for a teacher is only around $46k. We’re essentially paying the people who make the rules 4x more than the people tasked with making sure the next generation is smart enough to understand them.
The Politicians part is a HORRIBLE idea. This would guarantee only trust fund babies would take the job. Also, corrupt people dont become politicians for the SALARY, they do it for the connections and the insider trading. Keep the salaries the same, or even better increase them somewhat to make bribery less tempting, and instead make it illegal for politicians to own individual stock and to serve on the boards of corporations/ as lobbyists for 25 years after they leave office
Politicians being easy to buy is part of the problem.
Terrible idea. Last thing we need is more independently wealthy people running for office because they can afford to
Politicians should be paid very well and that should be paired with campaign finance reform and stringently enforced anti-corruption and ethics laws that lead to very harsh penalties. You want people from all walks of life to run for office and be able to support themselves well, we just need actual fucking laws and real courts to keep corruption at bay
CEOs couldn’t handle it.
Bolder idea: No elected official can buy, sell, or trade stocks. Any owned stocks or investments go into a blind trust.
Lobbying is capped and Citizens United is repealed.
Then: the annual salary for all elected officials is made the median income for the people they represent.
That’s not what he said.
>AND OVERPAID TEACHERS, THERE WOULD BE SMARTER PEOPLE AND LESS STUPID LAWS
None of the people who could make that happen want “smarter people.”
Politicians make out like bandits even if you paid them 0
Pay teachers a whole lot more, hell yes.
Politicians, also pay them a whole lot more. I don’t understand why we think $175k is a lot of money for the top people running a multi trillion dollar budget responsibile for 330 million peoples lives. Especially considering they have to maintain two residences, organize and run campaigns every two to six years, do media, hire their own staff on a shoestring budget, keep lawyers on retainer…
I really considered jumping into local or state politics for awhile but I just couldn’t work out a way to make it work financially.
Finally something intelligent.
That is way too on the money for government to let happen
I agree with this idea, but I also think he’s an idiot in other things.
He also said that racism will go away if we stop talking about it and that we should get rid of Black History month. The logic is akin to thinking that things like rape and murder will go away if we stop talking about.
Pay teachers more? Hell yes.
Personally I would rather pay politicians more but require that to be their only income.
Also, get rid of campaign fundraising.
Treat Congress like Jury duty. A set time that you have to serve. You are chosen at random by voting roll and your job has to reserve your position but the US GOVT. Pays your Medical Stipend and housing and utilities. Free Phone service and car rental.
#fewer
Maybe teachers should vote for their own raises like politicians do.
lol yeah, it’s like capitalism throws a party and fascism crashes it with a keg of hate and a playlist of greed fr
This is a grand idea. I’ll ask God if he could put me in that reality
Naive!!! If you underpaid politicians, this would hurt no one on the right wing (seeing as they get massive amounts of money from corporations and billionaires), while at the same time, destroying the careers of every politician on the left-wing.
Also, the right-wing always sabotages education every chance they get (studies show that, the more-educated a person is, the more-likely they will be to vote left-wing), so overpaying teachers gives the right-wing ammunition to cut education further. It doesn’t actually make education that much better.
One, if not both, of Morgan Freeman’s brilliant ideas make things worse, not better.
Too many politicians and they’re paid way too much. Bunch of scam artists.
# Bald idea
Morgan Freeman (alongside Jim Carrey and Robin Williams) is a common target of fake quote attributions.
Whenever you see a quote from these guys, know that it probably started as a random guy on facebook or something wanting to make his own thoughts seem more important than are.
This seems to be the case here; Morgan Freeman has never said this on record
I was just listening to a freakanomics podcast that was explaining how corrupt politicians keep entry level government salaries low. The purpose is forcing people to take bribes in order to keep their families fed. That way, everyone is on the take, and no one can be the good guy who calls the others out.
At a certain level you should be given government housing and stipends but relinquish the right to own property for the rest of your life (President and Supreme Court at a minimum). That would filter a lot of bad actors but academics and servants of the people would still want the job.
But the rich people like the dumb people…because they make dumb choices.Â
I agree with overpaying teachers, but what about underpaying actors?
But then how will reach and powerful people exploit the masses?