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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:12 AM Oct 2019

Harris gives Steyer a quick tutorial on "One Nation Under a Groove"

"C'mere Tom Steyer ... Nothing can stop us now ..."



I love these moments in politics. It reminds us that the candidates are all just human beings and most of them like and respect each other.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
1. Without video or camera's rolling.
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:16 AM
Oct 2019

politicians get along just fine. Why wouldn't they? Most are getting wealthier every month.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
2. Or maybe they just get along because they're decent people and like each other
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:29 AM
Oct 2019

Why feel the need to throw in a Republican-style "they're all self-serving crooks" ad hominem?

FYI, you DO realize the reason we saw this is that they were on camera, right?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
3. I don't consider making a good paycheck is crooked!
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:34 AM
Oct 2019

Only if you are breaking laws to make money it is crooked.
97.5% of politicians do not break laws.
The perks and wages of federal politicians are nothing to snicker at.
Their retirement system is something we can only dream about.
Ditto with their health insurance.
And their paychecks are not that bad compared to main street businesses.
When I had a gov't job, they kicked in 5% of my salary into my retirement,
and I could place 9% of my salary in a 403-B tax deferred retirement plan.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
4. As I said ...
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:37 AM
Oct 2019

There's a difference between making a decent living and "getting wealthier every day." And most "federal politicians" can download much better in the private sector yet chose to go in public service anyway. For example, Harris could probably make more in a minute month in a law firm and a corporate board or two than she makes in a year as a Senator.

But, regardless, what does their retirement system have to do with them getting along with each other? What does it have to do with any of this?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
5. I am going by own example...I got wealthier every month
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:38 AM
Oct 2019

during my 12 years in a gov't job. Much more so than my 23 years in private sector.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
6. Your example isn't typical - especially for senior level government officials
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:44 AM
Oct 2019

I took a huge pay cut to work in government. And, as I said, Senators and Members could make considerably more money in the private sector.

But, again, what do their paychecks and retirement plans have to do with whether they get along with each other? And why do your feel the need to hijack a pleasant OP with a BS argument about politicians supposed phonies who are getting wealthier every day?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
7. I guess your skills were not as high in demand as mine
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:50 AM
Oct 2019

because they offered me a raise and benefits which made it difficult for me to refuse to switch from my private sector job.
And my job in the private company was really secure, because I had developed all the computerized manufacturing processes in the company.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
8. Or maybe my skills are such that I can command considerably more in the private sector
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 12:56 AM
Oct 2019

than the government can statutorily pay its employees, regardless their experience or how much in demand they are.

And with that, good night.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
9. Sleep well and enjoy every day
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 01:02 AM
Oct 2019

because it is never coming back to be lived again.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
10. Not true about health insurance. Theirs is the ACA. Same as many of us have.
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 02:18 AM
Oct 2019

Either that or Medicare. And their employer pays 75% of the gold premium, as many private employers pay most of the premiums of their plans.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/12/523335954/what-happens-to-a-congressmans-health-insurance-if-obamacare-goes-down

What type of insurance do our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., have? Is it true that they're insured on the ACA exchanges now and that any repeal and replacement will affect them too?

Under the Affordable Care Act, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate and their office staffs who want employer coverage generally have to buy it on the health insurance exchange. Before the ACA passed in 2010, they were eligible to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. (People working for congressional committees who are not on a member's office staff may still be covered under FEHBP.)

The members of Congress and their staffs choose from among 57 gold plans from four insurers sold on the DC Health Link's small business marketplace this year.

Approximately 11,000 are enrolled, according to Adam Hudson, a spokesperson for the exchange. The government pays about three-quarters of the cost of the premium, and workers pay the rest. They aren't eligible for federal tax credits that reduce the size of insurance premiums.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

at140

(6,110 posts)
11. Oh I never saw that, thanks for the update!
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 08:22 AM
Oct 2019

Still 3/4 of their premiums are subsidized by the tax payers, not bad perk!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Scruffy1

(3,239 posts)
12. Last I checked it was 50% paid by employer for Benefeds.
Sun Oct 20, 2019, 10:51 AM
Oct 2019

I paid 40% because my union negootiated it years ago. At least in the skilled trades the federal wages are lower than the private sector in most areas of the country. Where I lived, the private sector paid about 20% more in total wages and benefits, but it was worth it to a lot of workers to have better job security and a more relaxed working environment.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
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