Report...Congress getting richer while joe public gets poorer...!

[imax2268]

Report: Richest members of Congress get richer
By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

There's something to be said about the rich getting richer. But what happens when the people we're talking about are members of Congress?

A story in Roll Call says the collective net worth of Congress in 2010 exceeded $2 billion, a 25% increase from a similar analysis done in 2008


http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/11/richest-congress-members-michael-mccaul-/1

(edited to include author)

[Ned_Devine]

1. call me nit picky, but...

...why is there an apostrophe in "...get's poorer"?

[imax2268]

5. gosh you're picky...! :)

fixed...! :)

[Cal Carpenter]

2. Pelosi is a big winner in this shitty economy, along with many others

It's both parties.


Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) reported that his assets were worth at least $295 million. Much of his wealth comes from the money he earned in the car alarm business. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) wealth also increased from 2009 to 2010, from $21.7 million to $35.2 million. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) all had multimillion-dollar net worths in 2010.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/congress-net-wealth-income-gap_n_1069377.html

Not a big fan of the source, but these numbers don't lie.

Money wins, money rules, we lose.

[imax2268]

3. yes...

this wasn't meant to blame one side...this is about those we elected to look out for us are just looking out for themselves...!

[Cal Carpenter]

6. Of course,

sorry if it came across as an implication of that. The link you posted laid it out pretty well. I had just recently seen numbers about Pelosi in particular so this reminded me of it.

Yeah, it is something that a lot of people know, on a certain level, but don't seem to want to take to its proper conclusion - when it comes down to economics, both parties are essentially protecting the status quo with minor variations. And that's because the majority of people in power benefit from it.

It just seems so sick that the rich (political figures or otherwise) get so much richer while more and more people struggle so much every day.

[onethatcares]

4. do you really think they want to pay more in taxes?

hell no, so they'll do the soft shoe shuffle and toss spitwads across the aisle and then say neither side can get anything done due to the obstruction from the other side.

[Obamanaut]

7. Some people *really* believe that this group will somehow let the

tax system be changed to something that will adversely impact their holdings or those of their country club buddies.

And people will say "Well, MY senator/representative is one of the good ones." No, they are weasels. If they are not weasels when elected, they soon become infected by the weasel virus. Party affiliation does not change that. Weaselry is rampant!

There are some more comments at this earlier thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2224927&mesg_id=2224927

Edited to add this: The really sad thing is, nearly all of the current weasels who seek reelection will be successful. "We the people" continually vote for 'the name you know.'

[firehorse]

8. Why is it not illegal for public servants to accept "conflict of interest" monies in addition to

their salary?

Are there no ethics legalities in congress?