They're (in theory) providing a civic service and they need to eat and house their families. $175k is not terrible when you take into account the likely need to maintain at least a second apartment in D.C. to live in while Congress is in session. The reason it seems like a lot is because they're all crooks and sellouts. But the solution isn't to strip the salaries...because then it will attract even more crooks and sellouts who derive their income from elsewhere.
One of my local politicians made a big deal about turning down pay raises when the position already paid very poorly. But he was a shitbag, and I know 100% for a fact the main reason he did so was that it limited the people who would run against him. He was already wealthy, but some of his potential challengers were middle class men with families to support.
The whole reason they were ever granted a salary is because the Founders were worried about the precedent it would set if only people who could afford to go for years without pay could be in government, but it ended up turning out that way anyway since (((money))) buys power.
That's it.
You are there to serve. Not mooch.
One of my local politicians made a big deal about turning down pay raises when the position already paid very poorly. But he was a shitbag, and I know 100% for a fact the main reason he did so was that it limited the people who would run against him. He was already wealthy, but some of his potential challengers were middle class men with families to support.