With regard to *elected* politicians, I tend to think the opposite. Their salary ought to be high enough to make selling their power for much, much more than their salary less enticing. Also, to the the extent elected politicians are necessary, I want to attract the best of the best - and afford them the luxury not to have to worry about how much more they could be making with another job. The problem isn't high salaries; it's the perverse incentives associated with trying to get re-elected over and over (i.e. pleasing large donors while they're in office). Just limit every elected position to one term. Period.