We are off to a bang in the New Year. According to the Senior Citizens League, a watch dog group, members of Congress will get an automatic $4,700 pay raise beginning in January bringing their annual salaries to $174,000. The increase will cost taxpayers more than $2.5 million. What a way to start the New Year. There are more American citizens losing their jobs every month and Congress is getting a raise. There is something wrote with that.

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman and constitutionalist, lawyer, philosopher and political theorist back in 55 BC. He was considered one of Rome’s greatest orators. He says something so sensible for our time, we should take note: “The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of offialdom should be tempered and controlled and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” What have we learned in the last 2000 years? Apparently, not much because if Rome had the same problems we do now, there isn’t much hope for us unless we can learn from their mistakes.

As leaders of this country, Congress should set the example for the rest of us by cutting back and helping the economy, not increasing their salary. We are expected to do the same, why can’t they?

Based on salary alone, each lawmaker will rank in the top six percent of American households. Our constitution did not intend for our leaders to rob our treasury for their salary. According to Daniel O’Connell, chairman of the Senior Citizens League: "As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain. This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”

Not only senior citizens are having troubles but families who are struggling to keep afloat financially need help as well. We need sensible leaders who are willing to take a pay cut and work to make our country better, not worse.

All I can do to help this situation is call my congressmen and tell them to cut back their salary and hope they follow through. There will be great changes coming about in the future if they don’t.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is the author of two books, “Home Is Where The Heart Is, A look at strengthening the American Family,” and her latest book, “Home Is Where The Learning Is” (www.amazon.com/gp/product/1403379637). Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stengthenyourhome.com.

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