There should be no debate about it: of course the state Legislature shouldn't accept pay raises.

When the Commission on Salaries approved the raises for elected state officials and top administrators, it was 2007, before the recession, before the stock market fell, before the mortgage crisis exploded, before Aloha Airlines shut down, before ATA stopped flying, before the epidemic of layoffs swept through Hawai'i.

Back then, we were driving big cars, living big lives and happily telling clerks "supersize it!" or "upgrade me!"

Now, people are hurting. Not just "I can't get my nails done as often as I used to" hurting, but "I have to sell my car, my jewelry and some of my clothes to pay rent" kind of hurting. People have lost jobs and have seen their retirement accounts shrivel. They're watching their carefully tended dreams fade and realizing that, wow, they're not going to be able to buy a house where the kids can have their own rooms. They're realizing they're lucky to have the lousy, low-paying job they hate because, gee, junk job is better than no job.

It's not just forgoing luxuries. It's losing some necessities. That's the reality for many people.

State legislators made $35,900 last year and would, under the pay raise that took effect Jan. 1, make $48,708. Pretty stinkin' good for a part-time job, eh?

For the same reasons, the state Judiciary should go along with Gov. Linda Lingle's proposed pay freeze for judges. Further, Lingle and her crew and other state departments should suck it up, too. The governor has said it is important that state leaders make sacrifices and lead by example while calling for a two-year salary freeze that would include the executive branch. That's a good place to start, but maybe some raises that came down in 2008 need to be given back. Spread it around. Across the board. We're all in this together, right?

Sure, the $4 million saved won't make or break the state budget, but in a time when all of us are being asked to pinch pennies, those pennies should be pinched. It just looks bad not to. It looks callous, self-important and out-of-touch with the reality of the people they get paid to serve.

Starting Jan. 21, opening day of the Legislature, the rallying cry should be, "Let it begin with me!" as each of the elected officials vows to take less for themselves and work harder for others.

And if that doesn't work, we should remind them in whatever way necessary how heartless it looks to take pay raises while everyone else has to make do with less.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.