Multiply 365 Day 52 - Time for some cutting

Much has been made recently about the upcoming budget, which program gets cut where and how much should such programs be cut.  The same list of programs will get trotted out as is always the case, and far be it from me to sit down and number crunch each individual government program and rest assured that I am sure that there is waste in many of those programs.  But I have a hard time with Senators and Representatives telling everyone how we all have to sacrifice when I see no such effort being made on their part.  The salary for a member of Congress is $174,000 a year, plus they are automatically given a raise every year to compensate for cost of living increases, so even if prices go up during the course of a year those in Congress are automatically granted a financial buffer to help alleviate those costs.  And lo and behold, if the government were to shut down as has been threatened by some members, while many programs will go without funding until work resumes, guess who still gets paid?  So excuse me if it comes off as a tad bit shallow when those who are making far above the average salary for a worker in the United States and are protected from such simple problems like inflation (and let's not even get into the number of perks they receive from their health care package and pension as well as goodies from lobbyists and the like) to tell everyone else that cuts are coming when they are not willing to do any cutting themselves.  Show me the congressman or woman who would suggest a pay freeze (or cut for that matter) for themselves and those that reside in that august chamber as a show of leadership before professing that those who may need government assistance are more of a burden that their own bloated salaries.