{"id":4601,"date":"2026-08-05T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/2026\/08\/05\/congress-just-voted-themselves-a-34000-raise-while-you-cant-afford-eggs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T00:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T04:47:18","slug":"congress-just-voted-themselves-a-34000-raise-while-you-cant-afford-eggs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/2026\/08\/05\/congress-just-voted-themselves-a-34000-raise-while-you-cant-afford-eggs\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress Just Voted Themselves a $34,000 Raise While You Can’t Afford Eggs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Politicians<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

They Did It at 2 AM. They Hoped You Wouldn’t Notice.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You were sleeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or scrolling Twitter watching the latest celebrity scandal. Or doomscrolling about whatever crisis dominated the news cycle that week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know what you weren’t doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching C-SPAN at 2 AM on a Friday night when Congress voted themselves a massive pay raise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you’re deciding between groceries and rent. While you’re skipping meals to feed your kids. While you’re working two jobs and still drowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They gave themselves $34,000 more per year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And they did it in the middle of the night. Buried in a 4,000-page bill. With zero debate. Zero publicity. Zero shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Numbers That’ll Make You Sick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Current Congressional salary: $174,000 per year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s already more than triple<\/strong> the median American household income of $54,132.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But apparently, that’s not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new proposal\u2014hidden in the latest omnibus spending bill\u2014raises Congressional salaries to $208,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s a $34,000 raise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For context:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • The average American got a 3.1% raise last year (if they were lucky)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • That’s about $1,678 for someone making $54,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Congress just gave themselves 20 times that amount<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    While inflation eats your paycheck. While groceries cost 30% more than three years ago. While rent is unaffordable in every major city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They gave themselves a raise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “But They Haven’t Had One Since 2009!”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    That’s the excuse they’ll use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    “Congressional salaries have been frozen since 2009! It’s been 17 years!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cool. You know what else has been frozen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your purchasing power.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Wages for regular Americans have been stagnant for decades when adjusted for inflation. The middle class is being hollowed out. Young people can’t afford homes. Families are drowning in debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But Congress\u2014the people responsible<\/strong> for this mess\u2014needs a raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What $208,000 Buys You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s talk about what Congressional compensation actually<\/strong> looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Base Salary:<\/strong> $208,000 (after the raise)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But wait, there’s more:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Platinum health insurance<\/strong> (better than what they let you have)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Pension for life<\/strong> after just 5 years of service<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Travel allowances<\/strong> for “official business” (flying first class on your dime)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Staff budgets<\/strong> of $1.4 million per year<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Office budgets<\/strong> for district and D.C. offices<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Franking privileges<\/strong> (free mail for campaign material)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Insider trading<\/strong> (legal for them, illegal for you)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Oh, and most of them are already millionaires before they even get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The median net worth of a U.S. Senator? $1.5 million.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The median net worth of an American household? $192,900.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But sure, they need the raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What Were You Watching Instead?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Here’s the thing about how this works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      They don’t announce these votes. They don’t hold press conferences. They don’t want you to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      They wait for a distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A celebrity dies. A natural disaster hits. A scandal breaks. A foreign crisis erupts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Something<\/strong> that dominates the news cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And then, at 2 AM on a Friday, they pass a 4,000-page omnibus bill that nobody reads. It’s got everything:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Foreign aid to countries you’ve never heard of<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Subsidies for industries that donate to campaigns<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Earmarks for pet projects in swing districts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • And buried on page 2,847, subsection 4, paragraph 12:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        “Congressional salaries shall be adjusted to reflect…”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Nobody reads it. Nobody reports it. Nobody stops it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        By the time you find out, it’s already law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Optics Are Insane<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Imagine being so out of touch that you think now<\/strong> is the time for a raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Inflation is crushing American families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Grocery prices are up 25-30% from three years ago. A dozen eggs cost $6 in some places. Ground beef is $8\/lb. Rent is $2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment in mid-tier cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Americans are suffering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And Congress looked at that situation and said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        “You know what we need? More money.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The absolute gall<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        “It’s to Prevent Corruption!”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        This is the excuse you’ll hear from defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        “If we don’t pay Congress well, only rich people can afford to serve!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Buddy, only rich people serve now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        71% of Congress are millionaires. The Senate is a billionaires’ club. They make more from stock trades, speaking fees, and book deals than they do from their salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Nancy Pelosi’s net worth: $135 million.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Mitch McConnell’s net worth: $36 million.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Do you really<\/strong> think an extra $34,000 a year is what’s keeping corruption at bay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What That Money Could Buy Instead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Let’s talk about what $34,000 per member of Congress adds up to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • 535 members (435 House + 100 Senate)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • 535 \u00d7 $34,000 = $18,190,000 per year<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          That’s $18 million annually. Just for the raise. Forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What could $18 million buy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • 360,000 meals for hungry children<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Healthcare for 1,200 uninsured families<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Housing assistance for 900 homeless veterans<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Scholarships for 600 students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            But no. It’s going to people who already make triple the national median income and have platinum healthcare for life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Bipartisan Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Here’s the worst part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Both parties voted for it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This isn’t a Democrat vs. Republican thing. This is an elite vs. you<\/strong> thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            They fight over culture war issues to keep you distracted. They scream at each other on Twitter about pronouns and bathrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            But when it comes to paying themselves?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Suddenly, they’re best friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The vote was voice vote. No names recorded. No accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Convenient.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Magician’s Trick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Look at the image at the top of this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The magician in front, performing the trick. The flourish. The distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The shadowy figures in the back, handling the money, making the real deals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            That’s Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            That’s your government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The show is for you. The show keeps you entertained, enraged, engaged with things that don’t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The real work happens in the shadows. At 2 AM. On page 2,847 of a bill nobody reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            By the time you notice, it’s already done.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            What You’re Going to Do About It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Probably nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            You’ll read this. You’ll get mad. You’ll share it on Twitter. Maybe you’ll rant to your friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            And then tomorrow, you’ll go back to work. You’ll pay your taxes. You’ll struggle to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            And Congress will keep collecting their $208,000 salaries (plus benefits, plus insider trading profits, plus speaking fees).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Because that’s how the system works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            They distract you. They rob you. They get away with it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Every. Single. Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Welcome to the Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            You’re not a citizen. You’re a mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            You’re not represented. You’re managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            You don’t have a government. You have a ruling class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            And they just voted themselves a raise while you’re deciding which bill to pay this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            But hey, at least you got to watch the spectacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            At least you got to argue about the culture war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            At least you got distracted by the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Meanwhile, they’re laughing all the way to the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Your bank.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Welcome to America in 2026, where Congress makes more in a month than you make in three years, and they still<\/strong> think they deserve a raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The trick worked. The magician won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            And you never even saw it coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n\n\n\n

            Psst. While you were reading this, they probably passed another bill you don’t know about.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            2 AM. Page 3,492. Subsection 7.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Better luck next time.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            They did it at 2 AM. Buried in a 4,000-page bill. While you’re working two jobs and can’t afford groceries, they gave themselves $34,000 more. And they hoped you wouldn’t notice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","beyondwords_error_message":"#500: Internal server error","beyondwords_disabled":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"categories":[21,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","category-politics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/congress-2am-pay-raise.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4601"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4604,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4601\/revisions\/4604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/american-review.org\/sentiment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}