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Quote by: GHook93  It is a hell of a lot different. First, the US leaders in all respect don't make that much. Little Kim has the key to the kingdom. Second, our leaders don't live the good life, while the vast majority suffers. The average North Korean is not quite that great.
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"According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (November 2004), the mean annual income across all occupations in the United States is $37,440. Contrast this figure with the income of the people elected to serve in Congress. There are four hundred and thirty five members in the House of Representatives. Of that number one hundred and twenty three had at least one million dollar incomes. As bad as this is, the disparity in the Senate is far greater.
Here’s an example. Republican Senate Majority leader Bill Frist recently reported an income of forty-five million dollars. Ironically, Frist’s counterpart in the Senate, Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, was among the least wealthy elected officials.
Congressional wealth, however, is bipartisan. In 2002 forty three percent of incoming freshmen had annual incomes of at least one million dollars. By contrast, only one percent of the public have incomes of one million dollars or more. "
The Congressional Millionaires Club
" * Comfortable salaries that are often determined through legislative sleight-of-hand. Contrary to the arguments of many Washington "insiders," the cost of living has rarely eroded the historical value of lawmakers' pay, which on a constant-dollar basis is hovering near the postwar high.
* Pension benefits that are two to three times more generous than those offered in the private sector for similarly-salaried executives. Taxpayers directly cover at least 80 percent of this costly plan. Congressional pensions are also inflation-protected, a feature that fewer than 1 in 10 private plans offer.
* Health and life insurance, approximately 3/4 and 1/3 of whose costs, respectively, are subsidized by taxpayers.
* Wheeled perks, including limousines for senior Members, prized parking spaces on Capitol Hill, and choice spots at Washington's two major airports.
* Travel to far-flung destinations as well as to home states and districts. Despite recent attempts to toughen gift and travel rules, "junkets" are still readily available prerogatives for many Members.
* A wide range of smaller perks that have defied reform efforts, from cut-rate health clubs to fine furnishings.
* The franking privilege, which gives lawmakers millions in tax dollars to create a favorable public image. Experts across the political spectrum have labeled the frank as an unfair electioneering tool. In past election cycles, Congressional incumbents have spent as much on franking alone as challengers have spent on their entire campaigns.
* An office staff that performs "constituent services" and doles out pork-barrel spending, providing more opportunities for "favors" that can be returned only at election time.
* Exemptions and immunities from tax, pension, and other laws that burden private citizens -- all crafted by lawmakers themselves."
Congressional Perks: How the Trappings of Office Trap Taxpayers
You're in for a tough time if you think you can claim that our ruling elite don't live far better than the average taxpayer.