Just a bit of info on the salaries of top elected/appointed officials of the US government:
Code:
President $400,000
Vice President $208,100
Senator $162,100
Representative $162,100
Majority and Minority Leaders $180,100
Speaker of the House $208,100
Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court $208,100
Assoc. Justice, U.S. Supreme Court $199,200
While the salaries are higher than an average citizen's annual salary, you should also consider that it usually takes much more money than that to get elected in the first place. And also consider that the salaries are a pitiance compared to salaries of executives at most corporations. Makes you wonder why some people would even want to be in office, and definitely reminds me of something from THHGTTG: "To summarize: it is a well known fact, that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."