The U.S. median household income is about $75,000 a year. I fully appreciate that it does not make sense to compare the salary of the average American worker with that of a Supreme Court justice. The importance of one’s contribution to our society should play a role in determining compensation. But I don’t think the justices should be paid more than they are. Government work is a public service. Government workers should be well-compensated but not enriched. If the justices cannot pay their mortgages and other basic expenses and have something left over for vacations, savings and investments on salaries of more than $285,000, they should take a course in budgeting.