I personally envy the mayor’s $186K annual salary and the delightful perks that he enjoys. But I am more envious of the i-banker’s substantially larger salary and the even more substantial perks that he or she enjoys. The mayor is very comfortable. But the i-banker lives like Caesar.

Not really. He could’ve–since it’s so much easier–taken a job at an i-bank, made a fortune, retired and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy. And in the case of the Mayor, I’m sure his $186K salary and countless perks afford him a very comfortable lifestyle.

Any prominent politician can parlay his name into, minimally, a series of high-priced series of speaking engagements. That’s small beer compared to a cushy consulting job with corporations who may have, totally coincidentally, donated to and benefited from the elected official’s political machine greasing.

And don’t forget the free pretzels that the mayor of Philly can demand at any time. He just flashes his mayor’s badge and he gets his pick of the freshest batch available. Mustard is extra.

There is not nearly enough recognition or publication of the fact that public servants and others who devote their lives to improving the human condition are vastly underpaid, particularly as compared to those who devote their lives maintaining the system that permits for this kind of income disparity. I’m surprised that I’m Shocked has responded with such a snide, and in my opinion ignorant perspective. Obviously that information was made available when a public servant decided to embark on a career of public service. The problem is that the public servant was forced to choose between creature comforts and the desire to help society function better.