Rich gets richer, poor gets poorer. This has been the norm for decades. Why? the rich 1% owns 40% of the wealth. They owe 5% of the debt. The poor owes the remaining 95% of the debt and pays interest for it. This interest is for money that banks create out of nothing when we borrow. Google for "How do banks create money" to understand how deep the rabbit hole goes. It is not social injustice, it is outright slavery.

Just use one of the GOP front runners (Newt) with his high maintenance $500,000 Tiffany open credit line wife ... as a prime example!!!!

Who are we kidding!!!!!!

Some of them do care. I'm fortunate -- my Representative (I have no idea whether he is a millionaire) does care for his constituents and has been willing to take on the big boys in the banks and other corporations.

However, if we want people who are not rich to run for office, we need to change campaign funding. First of all, corporations are not people and they should not be allowed to siphon money -- secretly or otherwise -- to political candidates. And second, perhaps we need to give each candidate a certain amount of money to spend on campaigning -- and limit campaign spending to that amount.

Representative Laura Richardson, a California Democrat who is among the poorest members of Congress with as much as $464,000 in debt, attacked Ms. Pelosi at a closed-door Democratic caucus meeting for endorsing a Congressional pay freeze, according to a report in Politico that was confirmed by other members.

Ms. Richardson angrily told Ms. Pelosi that, unlike her, some members needed the raise. Members now make a base pay of $174,000 and would automatically get a cost-of-living adjustment unless they were to decide, for a third straight year, to pass it up.

LOL....It's not a spending problem it's a revenue problem right Ms. Richardson? A great example of how Libs manage money. No matter how much she makes it isn't enough to support her lifestyle and when she kicks the bucket she will be buried under mountains of debt.

A conflict of interest indeed. When taxes are not raised for the 1 percent per say it is a conflict of interest that those in the congress and senate aren in fact choosing to make law in there own favor time and time again. It would seem that the appearance in itself is a big enough problem. But to have the percentage of both houses be millionaires or those who do not pay there fair share by incendiary exclusion they have begun to lobby on behalf of themselves. They need not have use for a program or company as law is written in there own interest. This is furthered by the utmost exclusion of the Washington bubble and the time actually spent in Washington verses there respective home states.

It is clear what has been happening now for years in America. Yet the house seems unwilling and unaffected by the strife. And in fact does not write policy to suit the problems or correct there direction. And instead bewilders the public as to why they do NOTHING. Why they choose inaction and sub-par intelligent action over actual solution. When you all wonder WHY the house of congress makes little sense KNOW that it is because they make MANY dollars.. ; ]

Cheers

If that debt is part of her mortgage, that would not be out of line here in California. Odd that instead of focusing on the politicians that are BOUGHT, you attack the one that knows what Americans are going through. Why do you want to protect the 1% so much?

Why in the name of good sense do people not understand that the rich pay their lackeys well? Whether Republican or Democrat, the majority of elected representatives are nothing more than bootlickers of the rich.

The wealthy own the Congress, lock, stock, and barrel. Gee, how tough is it to figure out how the rich continue to get richer? Talk all you want about how unfairly the rich are taxed, and then explain how it is they continue to own more of the country each and every year. There is only one single explanation: THE RICH OWN OUR GOVERNMENT.

Senators and Representatives make good money, they are rewarded with first-class pensions, and they have first-class medical care. When they leave office they will be wealthy, and many of them will go to work selling their connections. For a stellar example, look at Newt Gingrich.

Take a look at the Republicans who constantly tell us of the evils of government. Mitch McConnell has been on the government dole for most of his career, and his wife headed the EPA he so loves to vilify. Eric Cantor has not worked outside of government. Jon Kyl is the son of a congressman and has spent decades on the government dole. Boehner has been there for two decades.

Both parties have sold out to the wealthy. The only real difference is that the Republicans will destroy the country quicker than the Democrats.

"While the median net worth of members of Congress jumped 15 percent from 2004 to 2010, the net worth of the richest 10 percent of Americans remained essentially flat. For all Americans, median net worth dropped 8 percent during that period, based on inflation-adjusted data from Moody's Analytics."

It really says it all. The dolts that signed that pledge to keep taxes at historical lows should be impeached. Since when was an elected official allowed to sign a pledge that is in direct conflict with their ability to govern? A pledge to not raise taxes or close loopholes under any circumstances. Seriously--a pledge to not even close tax loopholes?

In this fantasy world where everyone in that warped sect of punks thinks they're a fictitious character, John Galt, from "Atlas Shrugged" makes me want to vomit. Taxes haven't been tis low since Harry Truman was President. I'm tired of thinking that my grandkids will be kissing the ass of the wealthy just to survive. The rich moved the jobs and get tax breaks for it.

Pelosi and Boehner were named on "60 Minutes" as those who had prospered from insider trading. It's against the law for the balance of the US to be engaged in the act. Congress should be held to a higher standard than the electorate--not less accountable. The vast majority of congress are taking money. Darrell Issa, (R), California is the richest man in government. His financial disclosures read like a joke. He has assets listed also as liabilities.

Throw these dumb asses out in 2012 and make them pledge to have no dealings with lobbyists, PAC's or any special interest.

Congress has never been a place for paupers. From plantation owners in the pre-Civil War era to industrialists in the early 1900s to ex-Wall Street financiers and Internet executives today, it has long been populated with the rich, including scions of families like the Guggenheims, Hearsts, Kennedys and Rockefellers.

Ok, I am a democrat, but if we (the regular folks: Repubs/Dems alike) just step back for a moment. Think about it, why would the people in power would not want to be also in charge of the very engine that regulate what they do? Why would millionaires spend so much money to make so little (compare to what they can make in the private sector)? We all belong on a team, but unfortunately the people leading "our" teams are for the most part out to make themselves richer. It's so easy to have the shrinking middle class fighting each other for "scraps". That keeps us distracted while the politicians rob us blind. It's time to push for terms limits for everyone on. I say it once and I will say it again. If two terms are good enough from the President of the United States (if re-elected), then it should be good enough for congress.

No surprise here. Quality whores make a lot of money

America, you reap what you sow! Our US Congress is the best money can buy! (and the worst in History)

This is what happens when a bunch of brainwashed sheep are allowed to vote and think there is such a thing as a "free ride" (send me your "retirement" funds, so I can manage your money, because you are not smart enough to handle it yourself, by the way, I spent it over the last 40 years)!

I am shocked, simply shocked, that Americans have not figured out they are not free and they have no choices. Keep believing the campaign "slogans" Americans and ignoring reality!

America is CTD, (circling the drain) before the finality of this society!

A great example of how Libs manage money.

LOL - and you think that conservatives (the GOP) SOBs think any differently. You need to get a clue about how the rich get rich - on the backs of the middle class - and - yes even on the backs of the poor.

They are able to use insider trading tips!! And it is LEGAL!!! You know, what they sent Martha to jail for. But it is OK for them!!! If jail was good enough for Martha if should be good enough for anyone in the government making money on insider information.

Truth is most of the idiots on this blog will forget this by midnight New Years Eve!

Congress exist of lieing, cheating theiving thugs hired off of the streets to represent us. Too bad we also give them the right to rewrite laws that will make themselves rich. The rest will continue to stand in line to get shoes that represent nothing other than the fact that you got there first. Obama and Jordon laugh while turning their back on the trash that continues to grow.

My, are you forgetting Jamie gorelic and Franklin Raines? These Ex-Clinton Administration people gained $780,000 and over a $1.1 millilon in bonuses by misrepresenting expenses for Freddie and Fannie to focus on that Republican who's net profit from consulting to Freddie and Fannie amounts to $36,000 in profit per year.

Clintons holdings increased drastically, Bush & Cheney's were also up, but not nearly as significantly.

Should we care if nobody is going to do anything about it?

When you go vote, see if there is an option to vote for a candidate that a ) isn't a millionaire and b ) promises to take no income from any source whatsoever outside his salary for serving in office; also promising to sell all real estate except for his/her primary residence and sell all his/her investments and buy only treasuries.

It isn't going to happen, so are we going to do anything by reading this unless we really need to find a way to hate our politicians more? Personally, I don't really think they need any more help in being hated.

Kornfed, How do you turn polls that say congress has a less than 10% approval rating into a partisan issue? The polls never ask about what kind of job GOP reps are doing or how DEM reps are doing it is OVER 90% disapproval accross the board. Most people when asked about congress's job approval think both house and senate. GOP majority in house isn't that big and the DEMS controll the Senate. So please stop the trolling you paid schill.

Unlike the taxpaying public, they have Congress looking out for their best intrests.

Congress is so VERY Rich - it is really disgusting. And yet how many of them PAY their FEDERAL TAXES - like they rant about. Come on now you wealthy Politicians - PAY your Federal Taxes - and oh by the way - Write that extra check to help pay down the deficit. Com on now - you know you want to send it - so just do IT!!!!!!

Only too beautiful for the gop's. Its a shame when the dems can't match them with the tips they get to make big money like the repubes do. Whats wrong with this picture? Its the dummies out there voting that still think the repubes have something to offer this country, when they just want your money. Hey as far as I'm concerned, go for it, I'll always survive. You repubes will never see me starving, I'll come and take the loins out of everyone of your cattle. You better believe. Your not even going to see me do it. I'll never starve for anyone. Merry Christmas.

Kornfed, How do you turn polls that say congress has a less than 10% approval rating into a partisan issue?

You dont even know when your are being bridled and led to pasture. This is how headline politics finds its mark. Welcome to the land of the duped

Stop complaining, you elect those a*ssholes.

Get rid of that democratically elected 2 party dictatorship, or term limits, or age limits, or anually income disclosures from ALL sources even if it is a paper rout (sarcasm here) or from standing at the corner collecting alms for the poor (even more sarcasm here)

As it is going you are stuck with those freeloaders and there is nothing you have done about it.

So again quit bitching or get do something about it.

Yeah, let's hear it for our great Congressmen and women, who gave us all jobs! And let's not forget the Job Creators, for their wonderful help in making America greater! Well, I need to get back to my shift as a Walmart greeter while I get foreclosed and can't pay for my heart desease, due to no health benefits whatsoever given to me by the federal government, so that my children will be left with a tanked work force and a screwed economy! USA! USA! USA!

Everyone dig out your coconut halves!

That's why we pay our hard earned tax money to keep the Congress and the elites' pockets full. Whatever would we do without these greedy wonderful people?

You notice how the reporter only focused on Democrats as examples of those who are wealthy in Congress. She forgot to mention that in comparison, there are more millionaire republicans in office than Democrats percentage wise. That doesn't make much difference when you consider the gap between the working households obtaining within their grasp, a comfortable life and the widening difference of making it rich as a politician. They get the money from somewhere folks, and aren't having to report the sources. That's OUR FAULT for not following the path opened by the OWS movement even if we disagree with some of their antics. We should at least grasp the ring and toll the bell on Congressional Hill for their own responsibility to the American People rather than follow sheepishly along to their diatribe and allow their unbridled reign. Half of all politicians leaving the hill end up working for the very corporations that lobbied their support, or bedded with these hypocrites.

boozehounds

You notice how the reporter only focused on Democrats as examples of those who are wealthy in Congress

This was carefully crafted. The author knew that all that needed to be mentioned was Congress, and richer. Pavlov's dog would start salivating. Proof you ask? Read the reactions of the posters to this article. The class warfare has already been established...The default reaction is that of disgust with the rich (Republicans) and sympathy for the poor (Democrats). Why people cannot see this ploy in all of its shining splendor is beyond me.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

And many of you buffooons have demonized us that have had the audacity to call our Congressmen, and women, criminals? Not all, but most of them fit in this category.

How do you think a member of Congress can go from being in debt in 2004 to being worth over $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS today? A $174,000 per year salary is NOT a lot of money in Washington D.C. Not for the lifestyle the politicians have to maintain.

If these civil servants can be so prolific in creating their own wealth why can't they be as good an advocate with our hard earned tax dollars and the Federal Budget? How can they allow our government to become so filled with waste, fraud, abuse and corruption? How can they allow our nation to have $15.1 TRILLION DOLLARS of National Debt? How for DECADES can they allow us to accumulate $117 TRILLION DOLLARS in Unfunded Liabilities?

HOW?

Because they're criminals. Crony-capitalism, fraud, bribery, kickbacks and any other methods of corruption is how. Insider-trading policies, that would send you and me to prison, are not only allowed, it's encouraged, that's how. Collusion with wealthy individuals with the promise of cushy Board memberships or consultancy positions can definately increase your "earning potential" while in Congress.

For all you 99%er's who think its all the TEA Party, Republicans or GOP that are the rich in Congress just look up the comparisons and see who are the real "wealthy" in our Capitol. If any of you are naive enough, or just too indoctrinated, to believing that these criminals aren't from both sides of the aisle, you deserve all the Big Government corruption you get.

As the Congress struggles to pass even the most basic year long legislation on the payroll tax-cut and dozens of other issues they certainly seem capable of improving their own wealth.

So all you OWS useful idiots, feel free to chase the hundreds of thousands of CEO's that you so despise. Chase those evil corporations that only use whatever the 72,000+ page tax code allows them to avoid paying their taxes. No member of Congress should be influenced by any lobbyists, PAC's, Goonions or other political systems. Remember, the highest discrepency between CEO salaries and the average Americans was between 1995 and 1999 when it was over 500%. Where was your outrage then?

Most of the 535 in our hallowed halls of Washington are corrupt. The Beltway is just a big circle of rich and exploitable people who use the abuses our Congress allows. Isn't it an embarrassment that the same Congressmen have been in office for DECADES because, of course, YOU believe your Congressman is NOT CORRUPT, and you just keep voting them in like lemmings?

They're all corrupt. Our Founder's and Framer's NEVER intended our civil servants to be career politicians. Doesn't it bother you that the term "Crooked as a politician" used to be a punch-line for a joke, but today it's a reality?

Wake up my fellow American's, YOUR politicians are NOT the solution, they are the problem!

While many in both houses average of 84 percent are rich as to be 1 percentiles it is rather laughable to see those on the extreme tea bagging side of the republican equation compare there representatives to those of the democrats. I am unaffiliated but all one must do is see who votes how. Who in fact controls the house which makes fiscal policy. Says who votes on what when and how. And who nearly balked at tax cuts for the working class and poor.. ;]

I am sure you all are able to remember the tea bagging republican extremist rather well. They are whom had us downgraded by pausing until the umpth degree. I am sure Mr. Bohhener his FORMER spokesman and Mr. Cantor can tell you who they are indeed. .. ; ]

Cheers

And you thought the Occupy Wallstreat movement wasn't about anything. This is exactly the thing they where protesting. Now that they brought light to it, all the sudden people are really talking about it. Talk time is done, do time is now.

“I don’t see myself as a man of great wealth,” he said. “To say that I’m enjoying a millionaire’s lifestyle — well, I can tell you, I guess a millionaire’s income doesn’t go very far these days.” - Mr. Pastor, the Arizona congressman

If congress is saying that... what are the rest of us suppose to do???? Oh, oh, I know.. eat cake?

Ron Paul has said these people need to be in jail, I have to agree. Do you think Congress getting rich has to do with selling access to special interest groups?

Interesting…… another article that serves only one purpose, to fuel division and discontent, that’s all!!

Every one of us has an equal opportunity to increase and build on his /her earnings, savings, investments, education, ie their wealth. You are in command of your destiny,so don’t let anyone stop you, roll up your sleeves and get stuck into it. No one is going to do it for you, certainly not the government!

wtw of KC - I am making a hand motion up and down with my fingers in a circle and my eyes looking up while yawning. Not sure if you can visualize that, but that's what I do when I hear the same old crap coming from Republicans.

@David Walker, you say both parties are boot lickers of the rich but yet single out Republicans being more so than Democrats. You lost any credibility when partisanship takes priority.

The day you can admit that both parties are equally lackeys and puppets of their master $, then your comments may have some substance.

The truth is both Dems and Repubs are one and the same using divisiveness, blame and partisanship to distract and divert attention from their crooked schemes.

They get rich by virtue of insider information, that would cost anyone besides members of congress their freedom as well as anything that they own, who acted upon the insider information for their own benefit!!!

2 classes of people in the US, those that the laws apply to and then there are the ones who could care less about ANY laws period, like Cheney who in a drunken stupor shoots someone in the face, disappears for 18 hours and then skips on by without a sweat or worry on the world!! To boot he NEVER ONCE apologized to the man he shot in the kisser!!!!

But yet we are to believe that all people are treated equal under the law, bull@!$%#!!!!

Brenda1964…..very funny……

But which part of what I said don’t you agree with? Is there another way of making it in life other than through inheritance or marriage, that’s not a result of hard work?

Well, this little tidbit of news really makes me feel like giong to work this morning! That's why people call it "Corruption Hill"! If I had a 9% approval rate at my job, I wouldn't be there anymore! Also these clowns spouses collect a whopping $375,000 from Social Security without making a penny contribution to the fund! Thieves!

A great example of how Libs manage money. No matter how much she makes it isn't enough to support her lifestyle

Yeah, look at THIS guy. Oh, wait, he's a Republican. I guess you won't be interested.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/30/real-world-congressmans-money-troubles/

There is only one way to ever correct this problem....join the Popular Amendment Movement and help pass the Election/Campaign Finance Reform constitutional amendment (along with the associated Term Limits amendment) posted at www.faircampaignreform.us. Note sections 4, 5, and 6 of the ECFR amendment. Download the two petitions, sign and circulate them among family, friends, and neighbors. Help form a local grassroots organization. In other words, become involved, not just complain!!!!!

Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Election Reform

We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.

Election Reform:
1. Abolish the Electoral College (Repeal Amendment 12)
2. ONE NATIONAL primary date to be held on the Tuesday eight (8) weeks prior to the General Election day for Congressional offices and for the President. Candidate petitions must be filed with the local/state elections boards 60 days prior to the Primary Election date. Federal election petitions shall be uniform in every state and shall include a “contract with the voters” that spells out clearly what that candidate stands for on all issues that they may have to address in elected office. They shall be held accountable in court for breach of that contract if elected and any/all terms are not met.
3. NO campaigning allowed for any elective federal office more than 60 days prior to the National Primary Date.
4. NO campaign contribution shall be donated to any candidate of more than $200 from an individual or $500 maximum from a family (spouses/children living in the same household.) No donations shall be made to a candidate more than sixty days prior to the primary date. No candidate shall contribute from their own funds more than 60% of the total donations from other private individuals.
5. NO campaign contribution from any PAC, corporation, union, non-profit organization, special interest group, etc. shall be allowed for any elected federal office.
6. NO third party campaigning (separate PAC ads, corporate ads, etc.) for/against any candidate shall be allowed at any time during or before the election season.
7. NO party conventions shall be held to select the presidential candidates. The selection must be done at the ballot box in the primary election.
8. The One Man/One Vote Supreme Court ruling shall be enforced by this Amendment, namely that NO federal candidate selection shall be by any means other than the ballot box on Primary/General Election Dates.
9. National Party Organizations shall NOT raise money for or donate to specific candidates of their party prior to the dates outlined above.
10. PAC’s shall NOT be granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, and any non-profit organization who uses their funding for political purposes shall lose their tax-exempt status.
11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times.

This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.

Name Signature State Address

A prime example of exactly how clueless our elected "representatives" as well as most career Govco. employees are. The rest of the country has suffered through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and these fools are getting raises and in the case of some in Congress, profiting from the nation's misery !!

Emergency rooms are required to take in anyone that is in need of medical services,

I'm sorry, but the Emergency Room is not a replacement for healthcare.

I keep seeing this popup - yet it is woefully naive and incredibly ignorant... not to mention constantly corrected.

The ER has no obligation to treat you beyond stabilizing you. Any sort of procedures needed beyond that, or treatment will not be given. The ER, in the long run, ends up costing more than mandated healthcare anyway - early detection and treatment cost much less than emergency care.

That being, it's incredibly short-sighted to suggest the ER as any sort of alternative to healthcare, ESPECIALLY when citing the cost as the primary argument against healthcare.

"Yeah, gov't healthcare will cost too much... so just go to the ER, they have to treat you anyway.... forget that doing so will cost me 3 times as much over the long run and increase overall cost for my plan's premiums."

A lot of talk in these comments. Talk is cheap, you must act, as anti-trust proponent mentioned above. Action is what's needed, not more words.

For those of you who think that voting is the only way to jettison the parasites in office, you have been given a way to show your displeasure, thru voting. I give you Ron Paul. I will vote for him again because I believe he offers the best choice among the thieves. NO..I don't agree with everything he says, but He is for real. You others, vote for him to make a statement.

Actions. Sharpen up your pitchforks and axes, light your tourches and head out to Capitol Hill where you will be stopped, beaten, arrested by those protecting the bigger thieves inside. Don't worry, there are more behind you taking up your spot... that is...if they get up off their fat arses and get involved.

Does voting matter when both officials are crooks?

My choices are:

a) Crook #1

b) Crook #2

How big and Vivid a picture must be painted for us to DEMAND SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

We must start a grass roots effort to send "Mr Smiths" to Washington!

Hay shocked. WHAT ELSE IS NEW.
It doesn't just happen on the national level. I have seen how it is done on the state level. Its all legal. Democrat or Republican. Have you ever seen one leave office poor. The biggest out in the open case was the 34 million Cheney received from Halliburton and you bet Halliburton collected dearly on that investment. Yep Rockyroad! That is the two party system at work. Pot calling kettle black

And now for the rest of the story that the liberals at the NYT (or on this blog) won't tell you:

Of the top 10 richest congresspeople, 5 are Democrats. Of the top 5 richest, 3 are Democrats (flaming liberal socialists to be precise). I'll bet if those numbers were reversed for Republicans, the NYT would have had it in the headline.

Yeah Washington - both Dems and Repubs - really cares about us and has our best interest in their heart, doesn't it? We're useful idiots and that is all we are.

Correction:

Of the top 10 richest congresspeople, 7 are Democrats.

Now how would the GOP justify NOT taxing these Congressman-millionaires? They certainly AREN'T THE JOB CREATORS!!!

"Like your representatives give a damn about you over the rich and corporations." - FactOfTheMatter

They're not in it for the rich or the corporations. They are in it for themselves...and that's BOTH sides. They aren't piling up cash because lobbyists are handing it out. They are doing it through their own personal investments.

What do you expect when the members of a bloated government are passing near trillion dollar pieces of legislation followed by multi-trillion dollar pieces of legislation that pick winners and losers-- not to mention regulations that pick winners and losers -- and they've given themselves virtual immunity from insider trading laws?

Every time they pass one of these massive bills or implement even more regulations, they are setting the plate for a huge personal investment payday.

Folks, I'm one of the lucky ones who still has a job and a decent income (for which I'm very thankful), so please don't flame me for the following suggestion:

1. With the internet available to so many these days, there is little in the way of mounting a viable write-in campaign for any Congressional seats which are up this election. With enough networking, a decent candidate could very well overcome the obstacles posed by the status quo and its money.

2. With so many out of work, there would seem to be a potential pool of interested and very motivated staff members inclined to offer their services.

3. Likewise, the candidates themselves need not be rolling in money: in fact, in this election, a paucity of wealth might actually be an advantage. What would be needed would be someone with good communication skills and solid ideas, which could be communicated via recorded speeches on-line. It needn't be all speechifying, either, as the medium is perfect for conveying large amounts of content in a short span of time.

Used wisely, this approach could yield results, and it would be hard to believe that its application could not affect the outcome of at least a few races; if it didn't, then you'd still have your proof that the system is rigged, so you'd know that the next step is revolution.

So who are you guys going to replace these "corrupt bastards" with? The majority of the American people are just as bad as the politicians. They throw their money into the same corrupt corporate system that they claim to despise, they rack up HUGE amounts of debt, and they want as much as they can get for as little effort as possible. Hmm, doesn't that sound familiar folks? It should. The politicians aren't the only problem, it's the people as well. Those who do not work are helping to send this country on a one-way trip to Hell.

And as we speak Nancy Pelosi is spending her Christmas vacation in a $10,000 a night Hawaii resort. She is being escorted around on taxpayer's money.

I can't stand both parties. How can we, the American people, stop this? Who can help us? Why doesn't the main stream media report this?

This is nothing new..been like this for decades..persons who want to be in Congress aren't doing it for the people that's for sure!

Let there be a law that you can only have so much in your bank account in order to work for congress, you may actually see some work...Of course we would need to step security..the doors of the White house have been breeched.

Ok- explain to me again what's wrong with someone growing rich? If they're not growing reach by stealing or doing something illegal, somebody needs to get over themselves.

Whether they deserve it or not could be another question. The politics of envy is getting really lame.

Isn't it interesting that Congress constantly exempts themselves from the same laws that they impose on all other Americans? Like 'insider trading', equal-opportunity and affirmative-action laws, OSHA, etc. - It's actually a very long list.

It's just another "Do as I say, not as I do" example of hypocrisy in Congress.

MSNBC is doing a god job of inflammatory reporting. It is a known fact that some members of Congress, in both parties, have been dishonest and profit from their influencial positions. This being said, I feel that the press is not being fair when they portray the entire 534 group as being calloused and corrupt. I don't feel that this is true.

I do think that the following measures would help curb corruption, level the playing field, and help restore the public trust.

1). Ban insider trading or the ability of a Congressional member to act on privaledged information for investing.

2). To run for the United States House of Reps or Senate one must have prior experience in a lower public office ( resume must include a rise through the ranks by first serving a complete term as a member on the State General Assembly,..ie as a Delegate or Senate member for a borough or voting precinct).

3). Term limits of no more than 3 two-year term max for House of Reps or two four year terms for the US Senate.

4). Harsher punishment for those convicted of violations of the code of ethics. Any violation involving a moral crime should carry legal repercussions along with the loss of their post equal to those of any other citizen.

5). They must make contributions to their own healthcare benefits, about 25%.

6). Congressional raises shall not exceed the rate of inflation cited in the consumer inflation index. An audit will be run to ensure accuracy.

Other ideas are welcome.

"Ok- explain to me again what's wrong with someone growing rich? If they're not growing reach by stealing or doing something illegal, somebody needs to get over themselves." - oy-vay!

If they're getting rich by exempting themselves from following the same investment laws that the rest of us do and then they pass legislation that picks winners and losers, then there absolutely is something wrong with these people growing rich. What they are doing is illegal to anybody else except them.

I would like for everyone to see this. The payroll tax cut holiday for the middle class that the Republicans fought against but oh so kindly gave into and that the Democrats rallied us to stand behind:

Not Much of a "Middle-Class" Tax Break
The number crunchers at Sentier Research released their analysis this week casting doubt on whether the tax holiday is really a "middle-class tax cut" at all.

Sentier showed that compared to how much people at different income levels would have received under the Making Work Pay tax credit (search for it), under the payroll tax reduction, "The largest tax savings went to households in the highest income" brackets. The bottom 30 percent of Americans actually lost money.

What's more, "Households in the middle-income deciles gained very little, casting doubt on the often-heard assertion that this was a 'middle-class tax cut,'" says Sentier Research.

Even without the tax-credit comparison, says Sentier, the tax savings that went to the nation's richest 10 percent in 2011 was $2,990, quadruple the savings for workers in the middle -- and 25 times higher than the mere $122 amount -- about $10 a month -- saved by the bottom 10 percent.

So even when we think they are doing something for us...they're not. The problem is you have to be an economist to know it or have hours and hours to research because our press sure isn't telling us the whole story.

As for today's story, if Ms Richardson can't live off $170,000. a year salary in Congress I suggest she gets back out to the real world and see how she can live off the salary she would make there! She knew what the salary was going in. The problem for us is that now we have another potential corrupt politician. How she got the position in the first place is questionable to me.

The other thing we need to understand as lay people is that it's NOT just the salary of the Congressperson it's the salaries of the aides and staffers. I have read where some of them are 6 figures...and we're paying! Here's a link to see her up close and personal:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Richardson

Congress has never been a place for paupers.

(1) In the first week of January, I'd like EVERY Congressperson to search the want ads in THEIR district, then apply for a job, and see if they get that job.

(2) Then report back

David Walker

When they leave office they will be wealthy, and many of them will go to work selling their connections. For a stellar example, look at Newt Gingrich.

An even more stellar example is Jon Corzine of MF global fame.

Mitch McConnell has been on the government dole for most of his career,

Nancy Pelosi has been in government for 36 years. Hairy Reed has been in office for 29 years. Carl Levin has been in office for 43 years. His brother Sander Levin has been in office for 29 years.

Eric Cantor has not worked outside of government.

Cantor worked for over a decade with his family's business doing legal work and real estate development. However Chuck Schumer never worked outside of government.

Both parties have sold out to the wealthy. The only real difference is that the Republicans will destroy the country quicker than the Democrats.

Hmmm, but of course let’s not forget the frugality of Nancy Pelosi this week as she vacations like the rest of us do in her $10,000 PER NIGHT Suite at the exotic Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu in Kona on the island of Hawaii. Her OWS supporters must be seeing her as the political version of Leona Helmsley.

It seems your claim of who will destroy America faster is a bit on the biased side. No?

Just to keep your post fair and balanced David.

Here is the problem...."We The People" already know about the problems in Washington.....Yet we are to concern about the other party....Once we stand together and start demanding more from the people that work for US and that WE hire NOTHING will change!!! WE are to blame here not them, WE allow it to happen!!!!

Seta

The biggest out in the open case was the 34 million Cheney received from Halliburton and you bet Halliburton collected dearly on that investment.

Hmmmm, I’d have to vote for Franklin Raines who received over $90 million in payments made on overstated earnings of $9 Billion instead of $6.3 Billion while at Fannie Mae. He is accused by The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), the regulating body of Fannie Mae, of abetting widespread accounting errors, which included the shifting of losses so senior executives, such as himself, could earn large bonuses.

Unfortunately Fannie Mae DIDN'T collect dearly on that investment.

Not too bad for another Democratic Rhodes Scholar, don’t you think?

rightwingnut69, I've got to completely disagree with your item #2. No matter what party you are affiliated with, many of your most notable politicians would be ineligible. For instance, Democrats who would have been ineligible for their first congressional seat under that rule: Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd, Tom Daschle, and Al Gore to name a few. On the Republican side: Paul Ryan, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Ron Paul and obviously others.

And what constitutes a "lower public office"? A one-term treasurer of a town of 1,000? A dog catcher?

Yes, AJ they know that by dividing us we will be kept too busy to see them as a whole. Our entire political system needs revamped but I have NO idea on how that's going to happen or who will start it OR what it should look like. Short of a revolution I see nothing huge happening.

Keep sticking with the two party system and this is what you get.

libtard vs. tea tard

Not much of a choice...

~~~~~~~"Lobbyists is a big part of the problem and should be outlawed"~~~~~~~

Did anybody notice toward the end of the story where Pastor talks about collecting Social Security:

"Mr. Pastor, the Arizona congressman, said he never relied on fancy stock investments to make money. He said the key to his good fortune was watching what he spends, paying off debts and, at age 68, collecting Social Security and a pension from his days as a county supervisor."

Why would anybody that has that much money be collecting Social Security, especially from a county who is probably stuggling for money as it is?

There are not to many jobs out there that a person can become a millionaire from the time they start to the time they retire. What a joke our government has become. The worst part is we vote these people in and I feel like a bystander watching the train wreck with no way to stop it.

Just repulsive, a government of Donkephants. Sickening. For years we haven't been able to trust anyone running for office. Their motives for seeking office are increasingly corrupt. Lobbyists corrupt the remainder - lobbying should be punished as the crime it clearly is.

I'm starting to think this nation needs a draft system for service in Congress or as President... Like a glorified jury duty, you're forced/drafted into some selection process by the voter to weed out the undesirables/parasites. Picking based on ethics, IQ, education, administrative skills ...alone. From there, we have a run-off election to pick one from the final '12' -- such a idea sounds somewhat like a joke, but so does our current American political system.

Regardless, lobbying / kickbacks should be punished as the crime it clearly is.

Independant4Ever, my view is that such talk out of the Arizona congressman is just a smoke screen. Like organized crime laundering money through a wholesale warehouse... 'hey, I made my millions in a lemonade stand.'

FreedomRingsLoud:

No, as a matter of fact, you are not trying to keep things fair and balanced. I took care of that with the closing paragraph in my post. You are simply trying to make this a partisan issue, and you are trying to use the weakest of all moral positions - "oh yeah, well you did it too."

It's the same kind of crap you come up with when Vitter, Craig, and their like are exposed as the liars and hypocrites they are. "Oh yeah, well Democrats do it too."

As a general rule, Democrats don't line up to defend the behavior of errant representatives. They were calling for Weiner to step down, while the blue-nosed Republicans were sanctimoniously condemning this evil guy. (You know, Gingriching him as in, "I'm involved in an affair, even as I condemn Bill Clinton for doing the same thing, but no big deal, because god will forgive me later.)

But let a Republican do it, and the right-wing moralists suddenly find it in their hearts to forgive and forget. Besides, "Democrats do it to, only it's worse because they're Democrats and god doesn't love them like he loves Republicans.

The fact is Republicans can't campaign enough on the evil of government, yet they are right there at the front of the line for their government handouts. Democrats typically do not revile government. As I pointed out, both groups profit handsomely, but Republicans take hypocrisy to the extreme in this regard - something about stones and glass houses.

Fair and balanced. Wow, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, from FOX, the people who pander to the most ill-informed partisan hacks.

Not to worry. I see your comrades have collapsed my earlier post. That means the truth disappears, right?

Why must you people keep rambling on about Term-limits. We have them they are called elections, just because some group of people keep electing McCain or Reid, how is making them vote somebody else going to help?

Most everybody on here sees an article and reacts, then the next article comes out and you react and in some cases completely contradicting what you said in the other article.

How about figuring out what you believe in and then standing up for that even if you party/team doesn't.

oy-vay!

Ok- explain to me again what's wrong with someone growing rich? If they're not growing reach by stealing or doing something illegal, somebody needs to get over themselves.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with someone growing rich.

No one grows up wishing they would end up poor or even middle class. EVERYONE wants to be rich.

As a matter of fact 80% of all millionaires in America are first generation. I have no qualms with you or me or anyone else becoming rich. America is still the land of opportunity. The private sector, if run efficiently and appropriately, can still create wealth, prosperity and a standard of living second to none.

The public sector is NOT a vehicle for becoming rich on the back of the taxpayer. If you invest and create wealth the way everyone else does, fine. If not you should be arrested, tried and sent to jail. As I pointed out in my above post regarding Franklin Raines, if you steal from our government, or abuse your power you must go to jail, regardless of party affiliation.

This, however, will never happen.

Unfortunately.

lobbying should be punished as the crime it clearly is.

As long as the Federal Government has power to do more than defend us, lobbying is an essential (maybe evil) part of the process.

How can we expect congress to best know were are money should be spend if others aren't helping/pushing them in a direction?

susan b komen has lobbyist, as does DARE, the Green movement, public schools, SS, States, national parks, ect..

Are you against all of them or just the ones you don't agree with?

Until we start taking the power away from the Feds and moving it back to the states, lobbying will be a part of the process.

So maybe people that are against lobbying really need to take a look at what the believe our Federal Government is responsible for?

No Tom elections are not the same as term limits and they never will be. Unfortunately most American voters do not know the person they are voting for. They may know if the person is a Repub or Dem and one or two campaign issues but that is as far as it goes....and that is clearly not enough.

Term limits would oust politicians....period. I suppose this is the nightmare of every politician in Congress, even the one you are working for and that alone is a very good reason to do it!

Spoken like a railroader of the Gilded Age. In the same way that the Supreme Court has opened doors with corporations in another area, Capital Hill lobbying has left the individual behind. The right to petition is most definitely in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. What we've made of it since that point is a great distortion. Lobbying is far from the sum of individual citizens, it is now power by the minority.

So rico, if I get elected and there is absolutely no consequences for what I do or vote for things are going to be better? So I wouldn't or couldn't be held responsible for not doing what I promised?

Look at what these people do now when they know there is a chance they could be voted out, imagine what they would do with it doesn't matter.

Like I mentioned above the people that vote for Harry Reid now are going to vote for somebody just like him and the same goes for McCain to keep everything non-partisan.

To me it is just a bit short-sited to say term-limits are a viable solution.

But let a Republican do it, and the right-wing moralists suddenly find it in their hearts to forgive and forget.

Hmmmm, you mean when New York Representative Chris Lee was found to be posting his ad on Craigslist and he resigned after less than 24 hours?

Those moralists?

Just how long did your boy-toy Anthony Weiner's "weiner" have to be exposed to the world before YOUR Democratic "moralists" started to crawl out of the woodwork to demand his resignation? One week? Two weeks?

Save your self-aggrandizing pity-party about all this, you know as well as I the Democrats are just as corrupt as the Republicans. I understand your inabiltiy to be fair and balanced but then again not many people are.

Let's make this a non-partisan search of ALL Congressional "public servants." It IS public information, is it not? Since everyone is calling for 'transparency', let's have it!

MSNBC please provide an alphabetical list (by each state, then breakdown of Hous/Representatives vs. Senate.) That way, WE, THE PEOPLE, will have all of the information when we go to the polls.

And, if you're not a registered voter or have no intention of cleaning government out, please take this opportunity to voice your right to be heard!

FreedomRingsLoud:

The issue with Weiner - which will be lost on you - had nothing to do with the sexual aspect of his behavior. My experience is that the left is far more comfortable in that arena than the bluenoses on the right.

The left doesn't care if Vitter likes hookers. They don't care if Larry Craig likes men. They don't care if Weiner wants to play stupid phone sex games. What they do care about is the honesty. The "Oh yeah, he did it too" BS doesn't play.

What does matter is the fact that they lied. Period. That's the issue. Your devotion to Republicans and the right-wing makes it clear that the last thing in which you are interested in is being fair and balanced. I have no such concerns. I can barely tolerate Democrats. However, it is true that I absolutely abhor RINO's - like you - and hold them in utter contempt. Of course, I mean that in the nicest way.

RUN FOR OFFICE = GET RrrrrrrrrIiiiiiiiiiiCccccccccccccccHhhhhhhhhhhhh!

My, my and now we have this article. Like this is New? The corrupt political class goes to Washington to GET rich at taxpayer expense and it is both parties, forget the partisan politics, that's all show. Note how many come from the 'legal profession.'

Those 'for the little guy' democrats wouldn't know a 'little guy' from a mackeral. Republicand are openly crooked, democrats hide it better but look at the numbers, see a lot of democratic congress people living modestly? Suck the system for all you can, create legislation and exempt yourself from it, insider trading, lobbyist, crony-capitalists, land deals, taxpayers stupidly paying for EVERYTHING while you sock away all the ill-gotten loot.

I call BS on the reasoning behind the wealth disparity. Election campaigns are expensive because the crooks need all the capital to get into position so that they can begin raping the taxpayer. Note how far campaign reform legislation has progressed. They pretend to come from a 'party' which has a 'platform' and they campaign on said platform. This reminds me of Mark Twain: "Congress, the largest criminal class in America.'

Blah, blah, blah....talk is cheap everybody. Pray tell, let's have some ideas for changing things for once. Mine are referenced on 1.49

Or do you think that you are going to talk them to death? Meaningful answers please.

Class warfare?

Newsflash: There is no warfare, the rich already won. Everyone else is fighting over what's left.

David Walker

However, it is true that I absolutely abhor RINO's - like you - and hold them in utter contempt.

As well as I despise Liberals/Progressives - like you - and simply remind you of your immoral hypocrisy that your ilk possess.

If you like we can throw names around all day like James McGreevey, Gary Condit, Edward Kennedy and on and on for all their "indiscretions".

You obviously confuse people - like me - who are Reagan Conservative's, Constitutional Originalists and Fiscal Libertarians who could care less about you, your Liberl/Progressive, social and economic justice espousing buffoons, or RINO, Republican, GOP garbage that has polluted their parties.

But then again morals, ethics, decency, Constitutionalism and free-markets escape Liberals irrational thought processes. Your delusion of "fairness" and a "level playing field" are no more definable than they are attainable. The reason being is you never define any of it. You just follow - lemming-like - behind your self-proclaimed elitists as they indoctrinate dependence, self-pity and envy in you because of your own inablilities and lack of ambition.

The fact that the TEA Party was the first and only true grass-roots attempt to reign in our criminal and corrupt government drives the Left insane as they shamelessly try to promote this non-sensical abberation called the OWS, Occupiers or 99% that have no clue, other than what they are brainwashed with, what their purpose is.

Of course I mean that in the most complimentary way.

wtw of KC...

But which part of what I said don’t you agree with? Is there another way of making it in life other than through inheritance or marriage, that’s not a result of hard work?

I think the issue that's bothering most folks on here (at least those with sense, anyway) is the fact that no amount of hard work deserves being compensated in the millions of dollars! I happen to think that having your money make money is not hard work, though it is risky, and making a 100% profit on risky investments is acceptable compensation. Anything over that is just plain greed. Sitting behind an oak desk with "CEO" attached to your name on the mahogany door of your penthouse office, while you blow smoke up investors' a$$e$ and abuse your rank-and-file workforce also is not what I call hard work. But, you see how many millions of dollars these fatcats make, right? Truthfully, I don't see how they can sleep at night, knowing that they are making millions off the sweat of a workforce that has not seen raises for years, while their pensions are eliminated and their benefits dry up; yet, these CEO's and other business owners are making record salaries and bonuses!!!

Try putting on a roof in 100+ degree heat! Try picking fruit and vegetables all day for less than minimum wage. Try being a firefighter battling a four-alarm blaze! Once you walk a mile in these peoples' shoes (or boots), you'll know what hard work is!

Devil - So if you have a really, really good idea, but no cash to make it happen, and I invest $1000 bucks in you, by your law I am only allowed to make $1000?

Here is another question for you, if you are a roofer but too lazy to go and get your own work, the person that finds work for you shouldn't be compensated or only should be compensated for what YOU think is fair?

You wonder how people sleep at night making millions? Maybe they sleep at night knowing they are employing thousands of people and those people are making money instead of being out of a job and whining with the OWS crowd.

I have a buddy that owns his own construction company and makes hundreds of thousands of dollars, and just the other night when we were out drinking with some friends, somehow asked him the same question as you for the most part. His answer was until you are responsible for the lively hood a twenty plus people and their families don't ever question me on how much money I make.

Well now, Tom...I guess the crux of the matter is this: you and your drinking buddy may think that any obscene amount of money you make as a business owner or CEO is legitimate and well-earned. Where I come at it from another point of view: you and your drinking buddy would be making squat if you had to do the jobs of your (probably) underpaid and under-compensated workforce yourself!

See, in today's business world, ethics and morals take a backseat when it comes to employee compensation. The business owners think that the "marketplace" dictates what they pay their employees, and whatever's left over of their profits goes to the owner or CEO. Now, here's where business owners' morals break down. The "right" thing to do would be to either re-invest the profits into growing the company, and/or share the profits equally (as in "share the wealth") with the workforce. Without your workforce, their is no productivity....therefore, no profits.

I'm not saying business owners shouldn't make a comfortable salary from their investments. The difference here is, what is considered "comfortable"....there is a limit, though you right-wingers seem to think their isn't and shouldn't be one.

They sleep at night remembering if their mega company fails they get a golden paracute worth millions even as they drove the company into the ground and trying to figure out how to increase the work load on the few so they can lay off more.

and Tom please remeber that it takes those people not making millions to ensure you can have yours...

Also rember Eron, worldcom, and that pesky wall street broker that stole billions on his ponzi scheme, name one middle class person that has lost over a third of the companys wealth, I can name about a dozen bank exe that can claim that

Devil's Advocate-784471

no amount of hard work deserves being compensated in the millions of dollars!

OK, I'll bite. How much do they deserve?

A thousand dollars?

Ten thousand dollars?

$999,999 dollars?

Can you manage an Intel? How about a WalMart? Maybe an Exxon/Mobil? Can you coordinate hundreds of thousands of employees and guarantee them their wages, benefits and security? Can you start from scratch and build a Forbe's 2000 corporation?

You seem to have the typical Liberal delusion of what it takes to be successful. All CEO's were just sitting around one day and someone came up to them and offered them millions of dollars to sit behind a fancy oak desk (I prefer cherry myself), right?

Lemme splain to you all it takes to become a CEO. You should be able to do this if it's so easy.

"Seven (7) Easy Steps to a Better Life"

1. Go to business school for 4-8 years; learn about accounting, economics, human resources, management, payrolls, benefits, inventory and a few hundred other aspects of running a business. Especially a Forbe’s 2,000 business. These are the root of all evil in your self-pity world.

Right?

2. Now, after accumulating over $200,000 or more in student loans and other debt, go get a REAL JOB! Work your way up the corporate ladder for 25 years or so, based on merit rather than tenure. This will be an unknown accomplishment for you but you’ll pick it up quickly I’m sure. You have such superior intellect, as to what it takes to become a CEO, as compared to the rest of the world.

Right?

3. Once you achieve your position as CEO or president of the company refuse to accept any more than $1 dollar a year in salary than your highest paid employee. No perks, no stock options, no bonuses, no pensions, no benefits and no golden parachutes, because you know these are all the root of capitalisms failure.

Right?

4. Now, DO NOT allow your company to make ANY profits because as all you Liberals/Progressives so proudly proclaim, PROFITS ARE BAD! Tell any investors and shareholders that they will most likely NOT make any money if they invest in your company because that’s the cause of all the world’s problems, greed.

Right?

5. Let the unions dictate all your wages, benefits and pensions, because unions only care about the poor “little guy”. We know the unions would never use any of the rank-and-files money for anything political, corrupt, fraudulent or imprudent.

Right?

6. Let the EPA, environmentalists and other “happy” groups determine how, where and when you can produce your product. They, of course, are only concerned with protecting trees, lizards, turtles, bunnies, smelt and other cute little things.

Right?

7. Oh, and make sure you tell the president you are willing to pay much more in taxes than you are responsible for to help all those who don’t want to work. It’s a free country, but it’s YOUR responsibility to give them your own money, even though they can work but just don’t want to. Everybody needs to pay their “fair share”.

RIGHT?

See how easy it is? Seven (7) simple steps.

BTW, I was raised on a farm and have harvested more crops than you've seen in your local grocery store from the ripe old age of 5. And yes I also worked slopping hot tar on roofs in 110 degree weather. I didn't look at any of this as hard work, I looked at it as work. Work that created a drive in me to improve myself and make my families lives better. I didn't sit in a public park banging a tambourine on my head lamenting the injustices of the world. The world is filled with injustices to those who accept them.

Get off your a$$ and complete my "Seven (7) Easy Steps to a Better Life" above, and stop whining.

Can't do it?

Keep trying.

Good Luck!

Freedom

Number one is incorrect since most Current CEOs have no idea how accounting works correctly, see BOA, Chase, ERON, Worldcom

they also have major issues with HR in those same compines

Not all CEOs have the jobs on merit sorry to tell you this, some like Orclae and yahoo have it from tenure

3 and 4 are about exassive compastion and profit margins

if you layoff a third of your workforce to increase proftits since sales are down due to a bad decesion by you well than you paycheck should be docked(it is not in real life)

and as for the profit amrgin making 1000% more in profit is a bit much(or in some cases earning billions of non real items, like extoic bundles being sold by a bank)

5. Lets go back before unions when the person with the big stick told you how long and where you worked and the comapny owned the towns

6. See love canal, BP oil spill exxon valdez, to name a few of the profit making steps taken by compinies at the cost of others health......... After all what kills a lizard can not kill a man can it?

7. is current incorrect the high unemployment is the fault of the CEOs failed planning after all they are the job creators( more jobs overseas layoffs to ensure profits point are made for bounus, fire people for whistleblowing about finical misconduct, hiding emails from lawyers saying what you are doing is borderline illegal, breaking the law and seizing homes paid off, foreclosing on the military while they are deployed, allowing account info to be stolen, pay into the congress get elected fund, hold down rightfully lawsuits as much as possible)

care to actual explain why some compinies people fail upwards????

Devil's Advocate-784471……..You have a fair argument there DA.

Please let me share a real life story with you. In 1968 two young men arrived (20 and 18 years old) migrants from Central Europe, in our street and rented a house across the road from ours. I was in my early teens then. They arrived with a couple of suitcases each, full of clothes and other personal items and nothing else. I recall that for a period of a month or so, they received some support from the government but within a week of their arrival both started work with a meat wholesale distributor in Chicago. They had to get up at 01.30 each morning to be at work by 03.00 in the morning. Three months later, both exhausted by the grueling work demanded of them, left the distributor for another job. While working, the younger one of the two attended a college, chemistry was his major and the other worked as a laborer with a gas company. He was also a “part time” student studying management related subjects. To cut the story short, 4 years later they bought a house together in the same street. By then they worked for different employers, both working in supervisory / management roles. Since arriving here they were never unemployed, they lived the “American” dream. Their parents joined them in 1974, Mum was an American by birth.

Forty three years later I still keep contact with the two “boys”, they come to visit me from time to time. No need to say they have their own families and are living a comfortable life. So that’s how it’s done, through persistence, determination and hard work!

My comment 1.39 was based on the above story and experience.

Devil - The "right" thing to do would be to either re-invest the profits into growing the company, and/or share the profits equally (as in "share the wealth")

Of course people should risk everything they have so they can share the wealth, sarcasm!

Wolften, you are talking about a handful of people out of the entire population. You know if you took all the money from those people and spread it out evenly among the population, we would all get less than a dollar.

But if you took the money that congress blow everyday we would get more than a dollar. So can you tell me what the real problem is?

Also, why do you live in the US if you despise everything it stands for? I am sure Cuba, China or Venezuela would have no problem with you moving to a country that fits better with your core values.

This is hilarious. Bring up Bush/Cheney. THEY WERE RICH before they got into office. Bill and Hilliary were not rich by any means but if anyone has profited from politics, those two are the biggest culprits. So get over Bush, he's been gone for 3 years. Focus on your current disaster liberals.

I might just run against Steve Israel next year on the platform of "I have no money and will be happy to receive a salary of 174K a year" I also can have a modest apartment for $1200 a month here in Suffolk County Long Island and have some money left over to finally save.

Wolften

Number one is incorrect since most Current CEOs have no idea how accounting works correctly, see BOA, Chase, ERON, Worldcom

Hmmmm, do you know this from firsthand experience? Are you an accountant? MBA? Have you reviewed their books and determined the CEO’s were incompetent of any accounting, or do you just take for granted what someone says? You nitpick four (4) corporations out of more than 2,000 who employ over 5,000 people (which by the way have over 800,000 locations between them) and you’re ready to demonize them all. How about the over 18,400 corporations with 500 or more employees, are they all run by bad CEO’s?

And just what “major issues” do they have with HR?

Not all CEOs have the jobs on merit sorry to tell you this, some like Orclae and yahoo have it from tenure

There is no such thing as tenure in business. You can spend 30+ years in business and not become a CEO. You become CEO based on accomplishment and merit. In 1977 Larry Ellison, Bob Miner and Ed Oates incorporated Software Development Laboratories, 34 years later thay employ over 108,000 people. THIS IS THE AMERICAN DREAM!

if you layoff a third of your workforce to increase profits since sales are down due to a bad decesion by you well than you paycheck should be docked(it is not in real life)

You do realize that most CEO contracts are decided upon by a Board of Directors. They are the final arbiters of contracts. There are usually two Boards, the corporate executive board and the supervisory board, they supervise the executive board. If sales are down due to a bad decision the CEO is usually dismissed. Now, if he or she had terms in their contract that provided bonuses, payouts or golden parachutes it was because the Board allowed it.

5. Lets go back before unions when the person with the big stick told you how long and where you worked and the comapny owned the towns

Let’s not. The unions had a purpose in the late19^th and early20^th century. Most of the improvements are now laws. Unions no longer enforce safety standards, hiring practices or discrimination issues, OSHA, FLSA, ERISA and others. Other than FMLA no other significant improvements have been created in the Labor force for over 25 years. How long do we keep maintaining the unions and their graft, fraud and corruption? These are enforced best at the State level.

6. See love canal, BP oil spill exxon valdez, to name a few of the profit making steps taken by compinies at the cost of others health

So how will you create a perfect accident free world?

( more jobs overseas layoffs to ensure profits point are made for bounus, fire people for whistleblowing about finical misconduct, hiding emails from lawyers saying what you are doing is borderline illegal, breaking the law and seizing homes paid off, foreclosing on the military while they are deployed, allowing account info to be stolen, pay into the congress get elected fund, hold down rightfully lawsuits as much as possible)

So, you honestly believe that the highest corporate tax rate in the world, over 145,000 pages of regulations, union and environmental intervention that create over $1.75 TRILLION Dollars in cost to corporations have NOTHING to do with our jobs being lost offshore?

If so your discussion is moot.

7. is current incorrect the high unemployment is the fault of the CEOs failed planning

Once again. All you have to do is take over for all these CEO’s whose plans failed.

Very simple.

FreedomRingsLoud....if you know of one....just one, mind you....CEO of a Forbes 2000 company who has done the things you mentioned above, please enlighten us all as to whom that might be, please! I can tell you, there's not one who can, as you say "....coordinate hundreds of thousands of employees and guarantee them their wages, benefits and security?" Well, there is one family who may be able to do this, but they surely didn't, as you say "....accumulat(e) over $200,000 or more in student loans and other debt (and) get a REAL JOB! Work your way up the corporate ladder for 25 years or so, based on merit rather than tenure." Of course, you know I mean the kids of Sam Walton, who are the biggest misers in American business and who didn't do anything to earn their positions except be born into the Walton family. And student debt??? Yeah....I'm sure they ran up a hefty debt...lol. Ol' papa Walton paid their tuitions off, you can bet! Must be nice, real nice!!

Look, you seem to like to side with the fatcats who drive entire businesses into the ground and they get their well-deserved golden parachutes while their workforce gets plunged into the uncertainty and desperation of the world of the unemployed. I happen to think people who make decisions that make or break large corporations should be paid according to their decisions, and yes, only rewarded in stock options. This way, they don't just look out for their own well-being, but for the good of the corporation at large. They only get richer if the company does well, and they get poorer when it doesn't. Most CEO's have no "skin in the game", as they have contracts that guarantee their wages and bonuses...yet, they will fight tooth and nail to prevent the rank-and-file employees from getting the same kind of guarantees.

We'll just have to agree to disagree, I guess.

freedom

Again you show your lack of knowledge

For the accounting thing I have to is read the news, Sorry you skip the stories where CEOs had to restate profits becuase of loses they had hidden or the whole ERON thing and WORLDCOM issue or the Emails from Bank CEOs stating they knew the bottom was about to fall out of the market........

Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan announced multi-million-dollar year-end payouts for their chief executives on Friday.

Lloyd Blankfein, head of Goldman Sachs, received a $9 million bonus, while Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co, received $16 million. Blankfein and Dimon received their bonus payments in stock instead of cash.

Both Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan posted record-breaking profits in 2009, following unprecedented government interventions that injected $35 billion directly into the banks, and provided tens of billions in additional assistance.

The compensation figures, which are lower than the nearly $100 million the two men together received in 2007, have been presented in the media as a bow to popular opposition. The amount of money given to Blankfein and Dimon, however, is huge; their combined bonus is equivalent to the incomes of 500 US families earning median income, or 1,500 at the poverty level.

Other executives got bonuses even larger than that of Blankfein. John G. Stumpf, head of Wells Fargo, received $18.4 million. James P. Gorman, the chief executive of Morgan Stanley, received $11 million in stock and cash bonuses.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/bank-f09.shtml

They drove the company into the ground got a bailout and still collect bounus....

The walton kids justed replaced a CEO that had tenure with the company(he was there from the beginning) Orcale, ERON, WorldCOM

You do realize that most CEO contracts are decided upon by a Board of Directors. They are the final arbiters of contracts. There are usually two Boards, the corporate executive board and the supervisory board, they supervise the executive board. If sales are down due to a bad decision the CEO is usually dismissed. Now, if he or she had terms in their contract that provided bonuses, payouts or golden parachutes it was because the Board allowed it.

So the bank CEOs decsions lead to billions in loses and still have their jobs what about those people? BP CEO? COMCAST? ATT ceo?

And golden parchutes are built into the ocntract prior to them becoming a CEO guess the facts are hard to grasp there.

Let’s not. The unions had a purpose in the late19^th and early20^th century. Most of the improvements are now laws. Unions no longer enforce safety standards, hiring practices or discrimination issues, OSHA, FLSA, ERISA and others. Other than FMLA no other significant improvements have been created in the Labor force for over 25 years. How long do we keep maintaining the unions and their graft, fraud and corruption? These are enforced best at the State level.

Lets See Walmart and BP are proof those practices are not all enforced. We keep unions as long as compinies can buy votes in congress through spending money on lobbyiest and reelection campagians(which remember some of them want to get rid of all regulations)

So how will you create a perfect accident free world?

At the time of the accident all emails and documents are seized and the people making the poor decsions based off profit margins alone arrested and sent to the superfund sites to clean up their own messes, and then have the compinies pay for cleaning the messes up. Pure and simple use the lose of profits insure the people in charge do not gamble with our safety...

Did I forget the Nuclear power plant in Japan that failed it last safety inspection prior to going out of control after the rouge wave hit japan...... all in the name of profits

So, you honestly believe that the highest corporate tax rate in the world, over 145,000 pages of regulations, union and environmental intervention that create over $1.75 TRILLION Dollars in cost to corporations have NOTHING to do with our jobs being lost offshore?

Are we tralking taxes on the books or actual taxes because actual taxes are some of the lowest in the world. You just stated the regulations are the reseason we do not need unions but then you blame those same regulation on driving jobs overseas..... Actual it is the persoanl overhead that drove compinies overseas, same reason honda and others are building factoires here.

why pay a living wage to an american when you can ship the job to China and pay 50 a day with little or no safety or envirmental concerns........ I can see you are a support of Ron Paul captislm will fix all sorry, we tried that and then we put regulations in place for the safety of the workers and the saftey of the custumers(remeber the book about the meat packaging plant, the lead in toys from china, the posion dog food?? or the quality recalls the goverment forced on tylondal after they were found to have contamident their medince)

Once again. All you have to do is take over for all these CEO’s whose plans failed.

Wish it was that easy but the damage has already been done and us the simple stockholders have no control over the CEO actions or their pay even though we own the company

"Talk all you want about how unfairly the rich are taxed, and then explain how it is they continue to own more of the country each and every year. There is only one single explanation: THE RICH OWN OUR GOVERNMENT." - David Walker

You're right, there is one single explanation: THE RICH ARE BETTER AT OPTIMIZING THEIR RESOURCES.

yes David they are since the funded the super PACs that get people elected that will end up owing them.......

lets take one problem at the time :

• TIME TO KICK OUT ALL REPUBLICAN-OBSTRUCTIONISTS FROM OFFICE.

CONServatives want an anti-incumbency fever ( who this time happen to be democrat senators ) but in the bounce they keep the house and get control of the congress.

Think before cast your vote. Republicans want TO MADE TAX-CUTS FOR THE RICH, PERMANENT. its all, up to you.

• You can stay at home and let CONServative take power or go out and vote them out

Issa, Darrell House R CA $448,125,017

McCaul, Michael House R TX $380,411,527

Kerry, John Senate D MA $231,722,794

Warner, Mark Senate D VA $192,730,605

Kohl, Herb Senate D WI $173,538,010

Polis, Jared House D CO $143,218,562

Buchanan, Vernon House R FL $136,152,641

Pelosi, Nancy House D CA $101,123,032

Rockefeller, Jay Senate D WV $99,057,011

Lautenberg, Frank R. Senate D NJ $85,572,116

Blumenthal, Richard Senate D CT $73,151,590

Feinstein, Dianne Senate D CA $69,046,622

Justagrunt, You couldn't find as many "R" why. Are you saying it is more super rich

"D"'s than "R"s I don't think so it's about the same.

wcritiquing,

I have a better idea. How about we ban all of you ignorant ideologues from ever voting again?? That'd be an even better start.

In case you didn't notice sunshine, a lot of those rich members of Congress happen to be Democrats. I realize it takes more brainpower than you apparently have, but try and keep up here while I explain something relatively simple to you...

BOTH SIDES are the problem. Get it yet? Until the ignorant tools like you on both sides of the political aisle actually start getting rid of these corrupt thieves, nothing will ever change.

You want REAL reform? Demand an end to ALL outside campaign contributions. That means the corporations AND the unions AND all the special interest groups. If the incumbents don't work for this reform, fire them at the voting booth by voting in their opponent.

I know. It'll never work. Most of you ideologues on both sides of the aisle only think the other side is bad. How sad.

"You want REAL reform? Demand an end to ALL outside campaign contributions. That means the corporations AND the unions AND all the special interest groups."

Campaign finance reform = a good ruling way past due = no lobbying or bribing allowed as ancient Greece originally formed it. We must have a fair neutral government honestly voted in to serve the interests of its citizens as it was intended, these problems would not be here if we would have gotten Campaign finance reform and a check on bribery of representatives as well as strict term limits on all civil servants in all branches of government, including the Supreme Court through years ago.

What modern folks do not understand is the old time awareness of this mechanism as a sovereign oracle of The People, the waters of true wisdom cannot be muddied. Corruption will eventually bite everyone in the backside now as it did thousands of years ago.

Let these white collared criminals get their campaign donations from their masters then tax all of it at 75% at every election. The proceeds to be put into special fund to replace what they stolen from SS over the decades and diverted to Lord knows for what purpose.

Ban all lobbying, require financial disclosure on stock trading and land deals. Prohibit ex congress persons and staff from engaging in lucrative political intelligence gathering from active Congress perons on legislation that could be sold to investors.

Actually, of the top 50 wealthiest members of Congress, 32 are Republicans.

For all of you asking for campaign finance reform, see my post above and GET INVOLVED. Help pass the ECFR amendment. Congress will never pass any true campaign finance law, and the SCOTUS will simply overturn it (they are making money off of this too). The ONLY way to accomplish this change is for the CITIZENS to use the hidden method in the constitution to make the change.....the Popular Amendment option. Download the petitions linked above. Sign and circulate them. Help start a local grassroots group to push the amendments. Don't just sit here and type your complaints. I've been urging Newsvine people to get involved since I helped form the linked website in July 2010. Where have you folks been?

Actually, of the top 50 wealthiest members of Congress, 32 are Republicans

Are you telling me that JustaGrunt was purposefully underrepresenting Republicans in his post above?

What a startling lack of integrity on newsvine. /s/

No, I just posted the Top 12 in Congress.

Justagrunt, You couldn't find as many "R" why. Are you saying it is more super rich "D"'s than "R"s I don't think so it's about the same.

This is what happens when liberals see reality and are shown facts on something they didn't believe to be true beforehand.

"Facts, are stubborn things" -- John Adams

Article link on the wealthiest congresspeople:

http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html

“I don’t see myself as a man of great wealth,” he said. “To say that I’m enjoying a millionaire’s lifestyle — well, I can tell you, I guess a millionaire’s income doesn’t go very far these days.”

But Congressman, the problem IS - WE SEE YOU . . .

Folks, who really gives if representatives are wealthy. Fair enough that someone can make a hell of a bundle in our country, with our system of government. It's called Capilatlism.

Problem is when our government asks us to pony-up our hard earned middleclass tax dollars to hand out to these gazzillionaires in the guise of "job creation". Surely, our corporate owners and big-wigs didn't need this "welfare for millionaires" when this country actually produced something other than hamburgers.

Odd how brainwashed folks out there honestly believe in this ritual of "paying for a job". What a crock of crap, and the dummies that buy into this "anti-union, work-for-free-without-healthcare-and -pensions, hand out for the millionaire 'job creator'" are the underlying problem degrading our country into third world status.

Actually, of the top 50 wealthiest members of Congress, 32 are Republicans.

If you add up the total amount of wealth of the richest Democrats in the top ten (seven of them in the top ten), it's $570 million. If you add up the TOTAL number of Republican wealth from #11-50, it's $330 million. So while there are slightly over half of the top 50 richest congresspeople being Republicans, the richest Repubican #11-50 are out-wealthed combined by just seven Democrats sitting in the top ten.

Nothing like putting things into perspective for Democrat liberals. You are welcome.

@ 10tacle you make me laugh, HA.

If you don't like the facts either make up new ones, or change the way people see the real ones, I guess.

You remind me of sport nuts. "How many HR's did Hank Aaron hit? 714" Or...how many HR's did Aaron hit, on Tuesdays, in the rain, during night games, when he was NOT in the top three batting order and before July 1st? None". So does that mean Aaron didn't wasn't any good because he didnt hit any with those criteria? lmao Get real...deal with the fact your Repubs are corrupt and greedy. They are. 32 out of 50 are on the Richest Members of Congress list. Deal with it.

What are you talking about MEEEE? I just made facts out of this article that were not mentioned! It sounds like you can't handle the truth to me! That truth being your heroic seven of the top ten richest congresspeople being DEMOCRATS and having more combined wealth than ALL the Republicans combined from #11-50!

Sounds to me like YOU have a hard time chewing on that and swallowing it.

It's clear we need to get the 1% out of office.

Eric

The truth is, if they have no money, we won't elect them. We are as guilty as they are. Lincoln would never get elected today.

10Tacle

Number one on the list is a republican...

The total wealth of the repbulicans from your link is around 890 million

And the democrats form you link is about 706 million

your "facts" do not add up.

Where did my money go?

Right into some repubes pocket, big mac.

Joem more D's the R's on the top 12 in Congress. Partisian politics is part of what got this country into this mess.

Issa, Darrell House R CA $448,125,017

McCaul, Michael House R TX $380,411,527

Kerry, John Senate D MA $231,722,794

Warner, Mark Senate D VA $192,730,605

Kohl, Herb Senate D WI $173,538,010

Polis, Jared House D CO $143,218,562

Buchanan, Vernon House R FL $136,152,641

Pelosi, Nancy House D CA $101,123,032

Rockefeller, Jay Senate D WV $99,057,011

Lautenberg, Frank R. Senate D NJ $85,572,116

Blumenthal, Richard Senate D CT $73,151,590

Feinstein, Dianne Senate D CA $69,046,622

There is only one political party left. The wealthy controlling the peasants.

GO OWS!

". . . compared with the country at large, where the median net worth is $100,000 and has dropped significantly since 2004 . . . "

My income is considered middle class, and I don't even make $50K a year. I think these numbers need a bit of adjustment. And note, that's NET worth. Methinks the numbers are skewed just a bit. Admittedly, I'm just in no-place Ohio, but $100K is pushing the boundaries of "average."

Being said and done, I suppose I should run for Congress, once I retire from my job. I could use a major boost in my income, and I KNOW I can do a better job than those already there. (So could most of the Disney line-up of cartoon characters, but that's another story.) I promise to work for compromise, not be an obstructionist, and represent the people of my district. How's that for a start?

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/edei45imi/fisher-island-fla/

Folks, who really gives if representatives are wealthy. Fair enough that someone can make a hell of a bundle in our country, with our system of government. It's called Capilatlism.

Problem is when our government asks us to pony-up our hard earned middleclass tax dollars to hand out to these gazzillionaires in the guise of "job creation". Surely, our corporate owners and big-wigs didn't need this "welfare for millionaires" when this country actually produced something other than hamburgers.

Odd how brainwashed folks out there honestly believe in this ritual of "paying for a job". What a crock of crap, and the dummies that buy into this "anti-union, work-for-free-without-healthcare-and -pensions, hand out for the millionaire 'job creator'" are the underlying problem degrading our country into third world status.

Capitalism is not the decimation of the middle class !!!

This has been shown to the public many times over the years, yet, nothing is ever done about it. We all now know, as "Sam Clemens" said during the 19th century; "the Congress is the only purely, native American, criminal class". Appears He was right. I doubt anyone with an intelligence level equal to "sprouting grass" is surprised by this revelation.

NOT REALLY

Congressional stagnation is an American political theory that attempts to explain the high rate of incumbency re-election to the United States House of Representatives. In recent years this rate has been well over 90 per cent, with rarely more than 5-10 incumbents losing their House seats every election cycle

Why run ...when you can lie? (on your a$$)

Congress's approval rate is less than 10% by any poll taken. Yet over 90% are re-elected. They set the laws about campaign finances so that they virtually cannot lose a election. Reduce the number of Senators from 2 to 1. After all why are there two from each state? It's not 1790 anymore. If each state has one governor why can't they just have one senator? Limit terms to one term. Never being allowed to run for the same office again or any office on the same level. No jumping districts to run again. 5 year residency requirement to run for congress. No more carpetbaggers claiming to be from New York. No out of state campaigning or fund raising. If you are running for Congress in say Illinois it should be illegal to except funds from someone who doesn't live in Illinois. Only living individuals legally residing in this country allowed to donate funds. No unions, corporations, PAC or Super PAC money in campaign or running ads of any kind. 90 days after the election all candidates must prove all their campaign debts are paid and any excess funds go to the Veterans Administration.

Boy, I sure wish I could f**k off for a year, not get anything done, fight with all of my coworkers, and still get a raise in a lousy economy. Too bad I live in the real world where I have to work my tail off and take a pay cut in leu of a layoff.

Except we have hundreds of millions of people to cycle through.

500 millionaires every decade is a terrible rate of progression.

It would take 100 years just to get 5,000 new millionaires. 1,000 years for 50,000 and 10,000 for 500,000. See where this is going? 100,000 years later and we can create 5,000,000 new millionaires. In 1,000,000 years we will finally reach the 50,000,000 mark. So, not taking into consideration any population growth at all, we could reach that goal of everyone being a millionaire in about 6,000,000 years.

Can I be in the first group please?

Someone correct my math if need be. I am not too proud to be wrong.

Your graph is too linear.

You might want to recalculate your rates, based on an upswing curve. Think about it- if the gap is widening, then the rates should actually appear nearly exponential, as should the lowered income rates (which should be based on a downswing curve.)

I surprise myself with my own response here on this issue. I don't think money should be an issue for a politician. The amount of money it takes to mount a campaign is staggering. I would rather have a wealthy person willing to fight for my rights because they know it's the right thing to do and they know it's smart for the country. Having money alone cannot be the sole issue. Because I don't think it's going to get easier to have poor people running for office. We have families to support! I know a lot of wealthy people who aren't @!$%#s; they're Democrats.

Rick, good point. Actually, I would bet that the majority of Congressional representation is of the middle to upper middle class of our society: college educated, 2 1/2 kids, home with mortgage, and decent investment portfolio. Seems okay to me.

Really wouldn't want poor people running our government. More often than not, these folks are in their position because of bad choices or lack of action, rather than unfortunate geography and an ineffective education system.

What boggles the mind is the need to provide tax breaks to these millionaires in the guise of "job creation". Certainly, these congressmen don't fit that scenario.

We have to get the money out of politics.

lib 50 - get the money out of politics! - Good Luck with that - you mean that DIRTY little thing called money - leave Politics. NEVER. This is what is wrong and yet no one wanted to clean it up.

the more campaign money they accept the more kickbacks they have to provide. hence the current mess we are in.

they didn't steal it...THEY BOUGHT IT!

yep...and where did they get the money to buy it? Hmmm.

I could NOT have said it better! Thanks, James!!

When we protest the 1% we protest Congress at the very same time.

All this shows us is how stupid the general public is that it cannot sort out who the true representatives of your beliefs are from the professional politician. Like Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, John Dingell, John Conyers from the state of Michigan these professional politicans are not going to do what is in the best interest of the American public, rather what is in their best interest personally.

They are corrupt its not the money that's to blame its the people with no morals taking it. We elect liers to congress knowing they are liers. They have no morals and no one investigates these corrupt politicians. Why, cause they are in charge of their own investigations.

This corruption is due in large part to the campaign finance system that the Reps and Dems have installed for themselves, coupled with the balloting rules that favor these parties to further guarantee that they stay in power indefinitely. That is why we need systemic changes to get our government working the way it was designed again: with elected officials that focus on the best interests of the majority of Americans and the country as a whole, as opposed to focusing only on the needs and desires of the party itself and the few large organizations that contribute to that party.

I encourage everyone to check out the American Overhaul Act at www.americanoverhaulact.org, which proposes a set of Constitutional amendments designed to correct these problems. The Act is focused on six separate areas of concern: Campaign Finance Reform, Elimination of Party Favoritism, Congresional Compensation Limits, Congressional Term Limits, Congressional Size Limits, and Federal Budget-Deficit Reform. Please check it out! And, if you agree with these proposals, show your support for the Act, and also share it with your friends, family, and elected representatives so that we may continue to gain the support we will need to make a positive impact on the future of this great nation!

They ARE totally insulated. Two examples: While campaigning AS President, Reagan took the entire press entourage (two bus loads) to lunch at a McDonald's, problem was he didn't have any means to pay for it and didn't seem to think that he should. The Secret Service members protecting him pooled their cash and covered the tab.

Bush #1 tried to show America that he was just a regular guy and went shopping with some press tagging along. He bought some sweat socks and was dumb-founded when the clerk scanned them with the laser reader. He was so out of it for so long he didn't know that bar codes existed or what they were for.

No doubt there are plenty of Democrats as out of touch as these guys, these are just the two that came to mind.

In your mind you think Reagan should have bought two bus loads of people lunch simply because he wanted a Big Mac? And somehow this demonstrates he was "out of touch"? Why? I wouldn't have thought I was respponsible for everyone's lunch.

As for Bush.......he is a billionaire and the technology was fairly new. It is doubtful he did his own shopping.

Doug I think the point was he invited the press to lunch and forgot about paying. Not that we should all get a burger everytime a president eats one.

Right now, I think freedom is a second to security which has left harbor and does not seem to be scheduled back anytime soon.

Uninformed opinions providing simplistic, sound-bite solutions, as you state, are the very reason nothing gets fixed in this country. Both the government and the private sector are responsible for the mess we are in. Your comparison of federal workers with members of congress, shows a great misunderstanding of the causes of our problems. Obviously, you did not understand the article. Read it again, maybe you'll get it the second time around.

I don't feel sorry for anyone making over $100k a year! Fire them all and take away lobbies!

We need to gut the military and stop the warmongering. Close foreign bases and give everyone who draw a government paycheck from soldier to president a 25% pay and benefit cut.

fs fu spoken as someone who never served.

fatsean, you are an uneducated, thoughtless provoking person who needs to have his head extricated from his hind quarters. You sound like a liberal left middle eastern who would actually like to see the world engaged in a world war. It is not the bully who flexes his muscle but the massive protector who keeps everyone honest that demands respect. We need to cut medicare, medicaid, social security, welfare, social education, food programs, and social services that are not sustainable, not earned, and promote the continued living off of the country. THAT is the destruction of America. Land of the free!

Fat Sean, you obviously have never served in the military. If you are an officer under the rank of captain you barely make a living wage if you had to live off base and if you are an enlisted soldier you make even less then that. It is quite pathetic what they pay our soldiers and yes I was one.

None of these fkkrs are worth the loaf I just pinched!

we can't vote them out because they support with entitlements to many block votes.plus while the media prints an article like this come november and all along the way they conitinue to back most incumbents for reelection.they would never release an article like this before elections.elected officials are supposed to do good for all not balance good with bad and trade tax dollars for votes.

I too believe that term limits are needed for congress. However unlike you I believe there should be two, three year terms without a chance to return later. Being humans, the longer we are tempted by corruption, the higher the odds are that we will one day accept monetary gains.

Here's one for you: Why do Senators, Congressmen, and Presidents get a lifetime pension for (usually) 1 mediocre term, when a Federal worker must work 20 to 30 YEARS and retire under certain circumstances??? Tarzan not understand!

You are 100 % right. That's the only way to elilminate the Aristocratic Congress of United Satete. Do

you know that family members of congress don't need to pay student loans and etc etc etc....

kev it is quite pathetic on what you guys get from the service. But it was you who made the choice to defend the country. Quit bitching about it. You get a retirement!

15.2 Fatsean makes a good point. Those who are risk takers, whether small business or investors, benefit the greatest because when their risk takes shape they earn more....but then there's that elephant in the closet: corruption. Politicians and Wall Street want to keep the spoils so they devise and write laws that benefit THEM and not US.

WHAT? OUR government officials???

It's called capitalism. The more money you have the more risk you can absorb and the richer you become. THen you have the rich buying laws to benefit themselves. Why else are dividends taxed lower than the highest income tax bracket?

Proof! Populist talking points does not remove the responsibility of proving what you say. Accusing people because it's cathartic is not responsible or reasonable.

Time for some anger management. People are so mad and disgusted, they're not thinking. Be very careful what you wish for while you're pissed. If you get it, you're likely to regret it.

Really madcow?

Are you sure it's not mostly due to the fact that you were born a less capable, less talented individual?

Or are you just so fair and honest that you cannot possibly bring yourself to excel in a world where only the liars do well?

Typical rationalizations of a loser. You're inferior. Get on with your life.

Selfmade do not be so righteous with your statements. There are many of us who are well educated to the tune of high level scientists that invented many of the situations the wealthy made their fortunes from. Those of us who choose not to take the unethical path as demonstrated by many elected political law makers is in no way a reflection of being a loser for not taking that path. I for one could make a huge fortune but chose a path of giving back to society and not taking from it. Your crass response would be indicative of someone who might have something in their business deals that they would not want the light of day to see as many others have in their dealings. At best an honest business man will make a middle class wage if they are honest and ethical. How do I know this? I too started a business with another well educated GOP who left their ethics and morals at the side of the road. Their path to getting rich was too unethical for my taste and conscious to consider. He of course was charged with fraud from coast to coast and that was just for the ones he got caught doing. By the way he passed away at the age of 43 and I am sure his past was too much to carry especially being an educator at a major university. No the path to riches is too costly for my mind to carry since it does cost someone else to lose.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there something wrong with that???

Class warfare isn't just the poor against the rich, it's also the citizen against the politician and the government employee.

They haven't had a raise in 3 years. Cogress has turned it down because of how badly our economy has been.

Congress is not allowed to vote themselves a raise for their current term. Any raise they vote for cannot go into effect until the after next Congressional election. Of course with nearly all incumbents winning re-election this is a moot point.

Here's one for you: Why do Congressmen and Senators get to vote THEMSELVES raises of upwards of 30 to 45 %, yet the people who work for them get MAYBE 3 to 5 %? Isn't that WRONG? FYI their last raise was 37%!

37% really ralph. Can you prove that. That really makes me angry.

Um Obama and The democrats are just as bad as the Republicans.

You're a fool. Most of the richest people in Congress are Democrats!

mhrjhn, after so many millions, the word rich becomes irrelevant. They are all digging into the billion dollar pie served up every year by the 14,000+ currently registered lobbyist.

When you have 25+ lobbyist per politician, every one of them is getting their pockets filled.

No party affiliation is innocent.

So to address your comment dmill, no matter who is in the majority, they will be millionaires from allowing special interests to pull their puppet strings. We need to get rid of the lobbyist before we can even think about term limits or which party is in the best position to run this country.

Those of you who blame this on Republicans really do live in 'the Twilight Zone.' The road of government corruption is lined on BOTH sides of the street with the greedy, dishonest, self-serving so called 'people's representatives. It's too big, too prevelant, to be fixed without extablishing a solid set of laws to keep this from continuing. If you truely fail to see that,,,,then I suspect you get all you daily news from people like the hair sack Ed Schultz and his motley crew.

This isn't about money. It's about knowing who's in control. We, the People. Pay attention to your politics. Study it. Know who's telling the truth, who's telling a lie. Study both sides of the issue, not only the side you agree with. Listen to a person's own words, taken in full context, which have been video or audio recorded.

This can't be a battle of rich and poor - it has to be a battle of right and wrong. The President and the Democrats in congress have been saying this for years now, while the Republicans in congress, under the apparent leadership of the newly-elected Tea Party Republicans, have stalled, blocked, and filibustered, maintaining that "just say no" mentality for the entire time.

One party is fighting for the middle class; it's the Democrats. Once party is fighting for the wealthiest 1% of Americans; it's the Republicans. If you think Republicans want you to vote for them because they are going to make you rich, you're wrong. Republicans want you to vote for them because they count on the fact that a percentage of poor Americans are disinterested in politics just enough to be fooled into doing just that.

You can't just hate and dismantle a government - especially a government that was set up to be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Hating government is just stupid. We just have to follow the politics more closely and know how to tell the difference between the truth and a lie. That way, when the people we elect aren't doing their jobs, we vote them out. The internet is making politics a lot easier to follow. I think people will take a big, deep breath in November of 2012, and holding their noses they'll vote for...

ANYBODY but the Tea Party in 2012.

Bingo!!

ATTENTION: People voted these servants. Servants to people were to make the least of money. These servants work for people, people are not supposed to be working for them. People hired them, people can fire them. Power back to people. Take back the power from those servants that people hired; who took it from them. Those servants have been giving themselves raises and capitalizing on their pensions. The presidents wage was doubled by congress members and former President Clinton -doubled the Presidents yearly income, 200,000 to 400,000. Where has anyone of you had your wage DOUBLED. What the HELL it isn't their money; contrary it is the taxpayers money -who CARES?

It is paramount that a third party be formed, and it is in process at this time. John McCain let it slip out; "The system is broken" Peoples Party, now forming, has it President for 2012, and he is singing another song unlike anyone else. Thomas Kipley DuGan is a real man, a knowledgeable man, a strong man, and more. He says he won't allow us to follow him, nor will he lead us. He says we must walk with him, and then he will do what he says, what we say. Without us he will do next to nothing.

People of Peoples Party will take back the power that the so-called politicians have taken from the people. They will vote them in, they will vote them out. They will decide how much their wage/benefits will be, and how long their service will be. Thomas Kipley DuGan says he will not tell us how he will do what he says until in October for the others will copy, change a few words and say it is theirs. Mr. DuGan is an original, free thinker, a master in the thought processes; these people are rare. Now he has come. Go to facebook type Peoples Party, click 'like' on a topic, ask a question, become Peoples Party, go register as Peoples Party, vote for Thomas Kipley DuGan. Don't vote for your dog this time.

JRH Peoples Party.

Well put, Chops! Couldn't have stated it more eloquently myself.

Replace them with what, their bastard offspring? Common Chops, we need to do more.

I believe that whether you're running for ANY public office, beit a local Mayor, a state representative, a Governor all the way to the PRESIDENT OF THE U.S> no candidate should have a TOTAL NET WORTH of OVER $250,000. PERIOD! That INCLUDES ANY SPOUSE. There are plenty of people I know who own less than that and run successful businesses and are integral community members. Always participating in making things better in their own communities--for ALL. That's the kind of people we need running this country! Ever see the movie "DAVE?" That's a HOOT--but the movie truly shows how you don't need to have a silver spoon crammed up your butt to run this country. What you need is BASIC COMMON SENSE--Something that NO ONE IN CONGRESS HAS--ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE! So yes, Skeeter...we need to do more and to do it, it's going to take REAL PEOPLE to step up and earn the confidence of the majority of people! I STRONGLY believe that especially in this political climate, anyone who speaks with a solid understanding of common sense would have a clear shot at winning any election! These IDIOTS HAVE TO GO! Them and ALL THEIR CRONIES and b.s. corporate influences on our politics!

I'm not just for term limits but what employee ever gets to vote for their own pay raise. I say during elections the American people, aka congress/presidential employers, vote on whether they get a raise, stay flat or take a pay cut I think I know which way most of the rank and file would go.

SO WHAT?! What's the problem with them getting rich?

Did they steal it? Did they earn it? Welcome to the new "green" movement- the politics of envy and jealousy! An infantile response from small minds.

Why aren't articles like this being written about Lady Gaga or professional athletes? If people getting rich is your problem, why aren't you trying going after them?

Yes, they did steal it indirectly. Being bought and paid for by Corporate America is stealing from the rest of us.

They did not earn. No Congress has ever performed so dismally.

Getting rich is not the issue stupid, corruption is.

All this education and people are still stupid!

The problem is NOT wealth it's the human heart. Of every despot the world has ever seen, most are NOT born rich. The problem is rooted in a lack of integrity, not party affiliation, ideology or economic status.

If we canned every person in Congress and replaced them, they new batch would eventually find ways to keep what they have and not have any problem getting more.

I'll believe all this envy rhetoric after we ALL quit being opportunists who take what we can every chance we get.

• When there's no more able-bodied people stealing disability parking spaces because it's convenient,
• when people quit raising foster kids for the paycheck,
• When people no longer expect the govt to subsidize their child rearing by taking deductions for dependents,
• When people stop suing for every little thing
• When people cease frauding insurance companies to get money
• When people starting turning down govt freebies because they're there

... that's when this tripe about "greedy people" will have legs. Until then, Americans tend to be opportunistic, greedy people who envy those who get more than they do, in my mind.

Enough with the whining already.

Oy

you just explained the problem,

the biggest handouts in the last decade went to greedy self serving bankers.....

Biggest fraud on the goverment comes from insurance fraud, medicare waste see Rick Scott former company for that....

Taking kids in without an increase in pay would be nice if the person doing so is rich but otherwise sorry to say most families could not afford to help a kid in need

and as far as taking deductions for kids well I can see you do not have any........

So the rich and elected (yes those elected officals with security and health care, goverment jets, paid washington homes, gyms, etc) turn down freebies

from your point of view nobody but those that do nothing can complaim please.....

and by the way sueing is what got all those people affect by goverment expirments money and/or cause toyoda to address their car issues, etc

oy I adhear to all the things you say but I still see a problem with insider trading and the fact that elected officals are not held to the same standard of law as the people they represent. When you build a system like that you can't help but have corruption but if you believe that making money by any means is a good thing I pity you.

don't forget the rails, tar, feathers, etc...

How about their heads on pikes?

Vote for all new candidates in the next election and get the fat cats out of washington. It is our choice. The voice of the people will make it happen if they want to. I think we will as a nation of 99% will continue to fight against the 1%ers. It worked against Bof A. IT worked against Verizon. We just need to find out out who(names) of the these people are and dispose of them any way we know how.