When positions of honor, such as those in the Congress, the Supreme Court and the Executive branch, become positions of profit, we entice men and woman of poor character to clamor after these positions.  This is what we have in our Federal government today and is one of the reasons why ethics in government is lacking.  Extortion, bribery and secret deals happen because men and women without character seek to line their own pockets and are encouraged to do so in well paid positions of honor.  Honorable positions should be filled out of a sense of duty, obligation and sacrifice.  By allowing these positions of honor to become positions of profit we entice men and women of lesser character to become corrupt.

Are there exceptions to these statements? Yes, but the vast majority of men and women will not be able to receive generous payments in positions of honor without "selling their soul" for personal gain, profit and privilege.  The longer they stay in these privileged positions, the more likely they are to become corrupt.

Limited government must be applied to the Congress. This includes limiting compensation, lifetime benefits and exclusive privileges. The idea that representatives of, we the people, should receive excessive pay, benefits and privileges contradicts their purpose and they no longer represent the people.