[Bgs-list] WANT AN EASY JOB? RUN FOR CONGRESS!

[CHARLES BAKER]

This is rather simplistic, but telling nonetheless when compared to the average worker. I got this from a tax savings newsletter for home based business owners.

In 2012 Congress will be in session a total of 109 weekdays. The other 151 weekdays (plus 104 weekend days), are “days off” so they can campaign for re-election.

January has only six workdays, just three in the entire month of August, and October will require just five days in the office. (According to CBS News.)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the only people in America who work
fewer days than Congress, are the unemployed.

This next part I looked up at http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm

The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Senate Leadership: Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400. House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority Leader - $193,400. And don't forget the government pensions and health care, office allowances, etc.

Even more disturbing is the number of millionaires of both parties in both houses of Congress, thereby making it in their own best interests to legislate in such a way as to promote the growing income equality because they are the recipients of the trickle up economics. About 47 percent of Congress, or 249 current members are millionaires. … In 2010, the estimated median net worth of a current U.S. senator stood at an average of $2.56 million,” according to the Center’s research. See: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/47-of-congress-members-millionaires-a-status-shared-by-only-1-of-americans/

BTW, I'm not a communist Robin Hood. Yet, I don't think the wild laissez faire, you're on your own brother, free for all economic system being promoted these days, as depicted in the works of philosopher Ayn Rand and economist Friedrich Hayek (who are often both cited as a top influences of CEOs and politicians, particularly but not exclusively Republicans ),  is the answer either. Our system is broken, yet we spend inordinate amounts of time, money and attention on birth certificates, who slept with whom, building 10 foot tall electrified border fences and the like rather than on real issues.

--
Charles H. Baker, Systems Programmer II CCIT/CSO
Don't see me in my cubicle? Try AIM: rascharles GTalk: chbaker at g.clemson.edu
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If you want to distance yourself from the masses and enjoy a unique lifestyle,
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