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It's a rich man's world, err... congress.Follow

#1 Jan 10 2014 at 10:34 AM Rating: Excellent
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The majority of members of the U.S. Congress are now millionaires.

That's what they're saying at least. Granted a millionaire isn't what it used to be all those years ago, but still that's a nice chunk of change. Some obviously have far more than others. Though, as the article points out, how much more we may never know. On one hand a person could look at a congress full of people who obviously are successful and know how to manage their life. On the other hand, one could see a group of people largely out of touch with the struggles of those common folk they represent.

What do you think about all the millionaires in congress?
Good thing:0 (0.0%)
Bad thing:17 (58.6%)
Nothing:7 (24.1%)
Beer thing:5 (17.2%)
Total:29


I like the couple of them who are worth negative millions of dollars and such. Smiley: lol
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#2 Jan 10 2014 at 10:42 AM Rating: Excellent
Biden was the poorest Congress critter at one point, with assets valued at 300K between him and his wife.

I voted bad thing. In a "let them eat cake" sense. Most of them have never been dirt poor. They may have come from more humble beginnings, but I doubt many of them came from households that were on food stamps or welfare.

NPR has been discussing the 50th anniversary of Lyndon Johnson's War On Poverty. When he was young, his dad failed. Their house was almost foreclosed, they had to survive on food donated by neighbors, and his younger siblings wore patched hand-me-downs for years.

I really doubt anyone in Congress today experienced that kind of poverty.
#3 Jan 10 2014 at 10:57 AM Rating: Excellent
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I voted "nothing" because, frankly, I assumed most people in Congress were fairly wealthy since they had time/assets to run campaigns and go hang out in DC and, as you said, a million bucks today ain't a million bucks from 1920. Not that I'd sneer at a million bucks today. Anyway, I'm more surprised to learn that only now did we break the 50% barrier.
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#4 Jan 10 2014 at 11:05 AM Rating: Good
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One of our Reps, Chellie Pingree, was just a poor single mom librarian when she first went to congress. Then like 2-3 years later she married Donald Sussman, the owner of most all our newpapers.

Now she's very rich.




Edited, Jan 10th 2014 6:05pm by Elinda
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#5 Jan 10 2014 at 11:22 AM Rating: Good
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Coming from humble beginnings does not make anyone a better person. While there is a tendency for people who came from wealth to take that wealth for granted, there is nothing stopping them from feeling a normal amount of compassion for others once they become aware of the problems associated with poverty. Growing up poor may give more insight into those problems but it does not guarantee compassion.

At any rate, as far as I'm concerned the interesting bit is not how much money they have, but where it came from.
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#6 Jan 10 2014 at 12:26 PM Rating: Good
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The real money will come when their term is over and they become lobbyists.


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#7 Jan 10 2014 at 1:19 PM Rating: Good
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Chellie Pingree, was just a poor single mom librarian when she first went to congress

Wow, what fairy tale did you read and mistakenly conflate with Chellie Pingree's life? She owned her own business and was pulling down mid six figures as the president of Common Cause before she "went to congress". She's been a millionaire(ess?) for a decade at the very least. Probably longer.
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#8 Jan 10 2014 at 1:27 PM Rating: Good
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Smasharoo wrote:
Chellie Pingree, was just a poor single mom librarian when she first went to congress

Wow, what fairy tale did you read and mistakenly conflate with Chellie Pingree's life? She owned her own business and was pulling down mid six figures as the president of Common Cause before she "went to congress". She's been a millionaire(ess?) for a decade at the very least. Probably longer.

I just pulled it out of my head. Actually I think I confused her with someone else - someone who was a Librarian for Freeport Town Library.

On closer inspection I see she's originally from Minneapolis.
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#9 Jan 10 2014 at 1:30 PM Rating: Excellent
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Elinda wrote:
I see she's originally from Minneapolis.
Not a good sign. Smiley: disappointed
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#10 Jan 10 2014 at 1:32 PM Rating: Good
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I'm originally from Minneapolis. Smiley: frown
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#11 Jan 10 2014 at 1:32 PM Rating: Excellent
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Smiley: disappointed
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#13 Jan 10 2014 at 1:39 PM Rating: Decent
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On closer inspection I see she's originally from Minneapolis.


Well obviously she's not from MAINE. Maine tall poppy syndrome (tall pine tree? whatever tree the leaping Frenchmen of Maine jump form) generally prevents Maine voters from electing anyone from the state to higher office. Mike Michaud obviously doesn't count as he's clearly a Dr Who episode waiting for a reveal "gay, and I HATE lobster. Won again muhahahahaha"
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#14 Jan 10 2014 at 1:42 PM Rating: Decent
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Coming from humble beginnings does make you a better person.


Nah, it generally makes you a neurotic shambles unable to cope with effecting any real change. Powerful people from *actual* as opposed to *euphemistic* "humble" beginnings are generally narcissistic nutbags who can't get out of their own way. What you want, really, are benevolent financially secure leaders who are beyond self interest. Ted Kennedy, say. Many faults, but his life of privileged didn't exempt him from fighting for the poors. The manslaughter charge, probably, but not fighting for the poors.
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Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#16 Jan 10 2014 at 1:52 PM Rating: Good
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What you want are people who have the same morals and values as you do.

What a horrible idea. Wow, I hope you don't actually vote that way, you may as well just carry a sign that reads "sucker".
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Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#17 Jan 10 2014 at 1:52 PM Rating: Excellent
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Coming from humble beginnings makes you deeply interested in the going per pound sale price of whole chickens and eighty pound sacks of rice.
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#18 Jan 10 2014 at 1:52 PM Rating: Good
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jimbrown45 wrote:

Coming from humble beginnings does make you a better person.

How so?
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#19 Jan 10 2014 at 1:54 PM Rating: Good
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jimbrown45 wrote:
Which is why welfare bums and criminals gravitate towards the Democrat party.

Well yeah, their humble beginnings make them better people.
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#20 Jan 10 2014 at 1:57 PM Rating: Decent
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Coming from humble beginnings makes you deeply interested in the going per pound sale price of whole chickens and eighty pound sacks of rice.

Well, it's assumed you'll have been raised by a skillful cook
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Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#21 Jan 10 2014 at 2:08 PM Rating: Excellent
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I've never met a politician with the same morals and values as I have.
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#24 Jan 10 2014 at 2:20 PM Rating: Good
Chaotic or lawful?
#25 Jan 10 2014 at 2:52 PM Rating: Excellent
someproteinguy wrote:
I've never met a politician with the same morals and values as I have.


Neither have I. At least, no successful politician that actually got elected.

Edit: Let's also differentiate between stated and actual morals. Lots of politicians like to claim moral high ground, family values, ethics, etc etc, then they get caught with their pants down (or tweeting their undies, or making shady land deals, etc.) Newt Gingrich is probably the most egregious example, since he led the inquisition against Bill C while carrying on his own affair at the same time.

Edited, Jan 10th 2014 3:54pm by Catwho
#26 Jan 10 2014 at 3:05 PM Rating: Excellent
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Catwho wrote:
At least, no successful politician that actually got elected.
That seems to be the crux of the issue. In order to be elected they'd probably have to have enough political astuteness for me not to consider them trustworthy, and do something immoral enough for me not to want to vote for them.

Catwho wrote:
Edit: Let's also differentiate between stated and actual morals.
Definitely.
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That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
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