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We're trying to run a country here. Public sector consumption and investment expenditures currently account for about 20% of GDP. That process affects you and how you live your daily lives. There are distinctly different points of view over how that consumption and investment should be ordered, targeted, and prioritized. Those exist not just between, but also across the existing political parties. If you think the process doesn't matter, you aren't paying enough attention...
It has been this way for centuries thru bad and good times. What makes anyone think that government by others will be any better? I see no difference in honesty between any party really except in the blind eyes of thoise true believers.A political system is about how we devide the wealth of tax payers money and there are a huge number of special,interest amoung all groups and even lower government bodies than the feds.Everybody seems to want the other guy to pay and more go to them> Look at local governamnt where there is a large turn over;huge corrution problems.
Let us take a quick look at our "leaders" compensation for their efforts.
Congressmen & Senators are paid $168,500 a yr. The speaker of the house gets $212,100 & the majority & minority leaders in both chambers make $183,500. The reps. set their own comp. and they see to it that they are paid well above the private sector. The average income in the US is just over $60,000 for a family of 4.
The pyramid of perks would take an additional 2 paragraphs and would make most bratfink CEO's blush.
Some may consider a career in public service--hmm, why not. Congress has been in session only an average of 153 days over the past 6 yrs. (And are you aware of how well those lobbyists would take care of you) However, this isn't exactly written in stone--but almost, a horrendous pillar may emerge and the American people may someday soon actually DEMAND reform, O.K. then--fairly soon!!
Let us take a quick look at our "leaders" compensation for their efforts. Congressmen & Senators are paid $168,500 a yr. The speaker of the house gets $212,100 & the majority & minority leaders in both chambers make $183,500.
The reps. set their own comp. and they see to it that they are paid well above the private sector. The average income in the US is just over $60,000 for a family of 4.
Please see the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. The Congress may adjust the pay of subsequent Congresses, but not its own. The job of the average head of household in the US is not remotely related to being a member of Congress. Actually equivalent private sector executives often earn more than ten times the salaries shown above.
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Originally Posted by bluskyz
The pyramid of perks would take an additional 2 paragraphs and would make most bratfink CEO's blush.
Ooooh! Tell us about the cushy "special retirement system"! In fact, members of Congress have the same retirement and medical insurance programs that all rank-and-file federal employees do. Members do have expense and allowance priveleges for travel, office space, staffing, postage, and various other factors that are related to the business of being a member of Congress, but these pale in comparison to what is provided in the private sector.
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Originally Posted by bluskyz
Some may consider a career in public service--hmm, why not. Congress has been in session only an average of 153 days over the past 6 yrs.
What do you think members do on all those other days?
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Originally Posted by bluskyz
(And are you aware of how well those lobbyists would take care of you)
Any idea on what the limitations on accepting anything at all from a lobbyist are?
When are the American people going to wake up and vote these same old senators out of office? They are the elite of our country. It doesn't matter who is voted into the presidency or the House of Reps. The same old senators control everything. They've totally messed up our dollar, our jobs, economy , our families and will destroy our way of life. But please don't drill for oil, gas, build refineries, or make anything here. At least we'll have our trees, animals, and clean air, we'll be able to eat them both.
We're going to need to keep the torches and pitchforks!!
Yea isn't it grand........A bunch of greedy pigs they are.........
Things will not change until people realize there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans. Imagine a herd of sheep, (thats us) with 2 sheepdogs one on the left and one on the right. It seems to us they are steering us in different directions but they are not, they are guiding us to the same place. When we begin to elect independents, libretarians, and others to office then we will have a chance at a representitve goverment. As long as we vote for the status quo that is what we will get.
You are right but how do we get the dumbest Sheep to see this?
The politicians are not the elites of this country. They are A)either the descendents of elites or b) people who want to hang out with the elites but wouldn't ever make it in the real world so they turn to kissing an elites ass for their positions. Also blame the American people. When things start to go bad they blame someone else other than themselves.
Just keep speaking the truth, now that things are getting tough, people will begin to look for the reasons why.
No they won't. They will begin to look for more handouts. Thus the problem and WHY we keep getting these same wonderful "do nothing" politicians in office.
It is VERY easy to be happy with our politicians when next week people receive money into their bank accounts or checks in the mail and they really aren't sure why nor care(which I guarantee you is more than you think). It's free money.
The overwhelming majority of voters in this country don't care or don't have any clue on the issues about who they are voting for.
Look at Obama's votes in PA. The exit poll numbers I saw were 92% of blacks voted for Obama. Those numbers don't mean people were voting on stances. This is a horrible problem we have going on but there is nothing that can be done since being able to vote doesn't require any sort of knowledge about a candidate.
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The Leaders & The Lead (ah, led !)
