We're getting poorer, Congress is getting richer!

[Chubminnow]

This probably doesn't come as a news flash to anyone...guess I'm just glad someone in the media took time to do some research and report it on abcnews.com

While millions of Americans saw their incomes decrease, their job opportunities dissipate and their home values drop as the economy dipped, the 535 men and women they elected to represent them in the U.S. Congress were not only shielded from the economic downturn but gained during it.

The average American’s net worth has dropped 8 percent during the past six years, while members of Congress got, on average, 15 percent richer, according to a New York Times analysis of financial disclosure. The median net worth of members of Congress is about $913,000, compared with about $100,000 for the country at large, the Times’ analysis found.

This wealth disparity between lawmakers and the people they represent seems to be continually growing. Nearly half of Congress — 249 members — are millionaires, while only 5 percent of American households can make the same claim.

Even among the super rich, members of Congress fare better than other wealthy Americans. While the net worth of the richest 10 percent of Americans has remained stagnant since 2004, lawmakers’ net worth has seen double-digit growth, the Times reports.

Members of the House have fared especially well. From 1984 to 2009, the average net worth of the 435 House reps more than doubled, from $280,000 to $725,000, not including home equity, according to a Washington Post analysis of financial disclosures.

And while lawmakers in the “people’s house” grew significantly richer, the people they represent became slightly poorer, with the average wealth of an American household dropping from $20,600 to $20,500 over the same time period, the Post reports.

This growing disparity may be due, in part, to the rising cost of campaigning, which may deter less-affluent citizens from seeking public office.

To win a House seat, candidates spent an average of $1.4 million in 2010, four times as much as was spent in 1976, according to the Federal Election Commission. Winning a Senate seat is nearly 10 times as expensive, with the average successful Senate campaign shelling out nearly $10 million in 2010.

[DJD]

We have to vote these crooks out! Remember several gained wealth by some insider info on stocks..... Been doing that for years.

[Hlleonard]

We seem to be in a steady crawl to attaining third world status... Some years down the road we will be just like other countries where the wealth of the country is in the hands of the politicians and the people who own them... I doubt anything can be done to stop this, it may be just a natural progression that is inevitable... That is a sad thought but it may be true.

[Chubminnow]

DJD and Hlleaonard both speak the truth...vote the present congress members out. But...is it to late? All of us regular paycheck-to-paycheck folks are making ends meet while the boys on the hill continue getting fat...off of us no less!

I know the common folk outnumber the people in government...hmmm, just thinkin'...

[RoadToad]

It would be nice if we could get back to the way it was in the days of our forefathers, when being a member of Congress was not very lucrative, and men did it out of love for their country, but I guess that's pie-in-the-sky. But really, I wouldn't care if they got rich, if they'd only get something DONE while they're on the job!

[Chubminnow]

Let's say we do vote them all out...then what? The one's voted out will get the hefty retirement packages and the new guys coming in will also get nice pay along with all the same benefits the other guys got. Kind of seems like a vicious cycle to me...a domino effect.

[bassin_bug]

Let's say we do vote them all out...then what?

Barak Obama is not running the United States government; his close friend George Soros, a man with more money than most corporations, does the fiddlin' and Obama does the dancing. His fingerprints are all over every decision Obama makes and for good reason. He had contributed millions of dollars to Obama's campaign and his favorite projects. He is also making major contributions to the Occupy gang.

Do a search on George Soros and read some of the "deeds" that his billions of dollars are doing.

[MrSplitshot]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

I suspect that for every one voted out there is another one waiting in line to keep his or her seat warm. They all have grand ideas about how they're going to change the world...until ass hits seat and the lucrativeness of someone's lobby tempts their taste buds.

[Hlleonard]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

I suspect that for every one voted out there is another one waiting in line to keep his or her seat warm. They all have grand ideas about how they're going to change the world...until ass hits seat and the lucrativeness of someone's lobby tempts their taste buds.

--
It is unfortunate that we don't seem to have a snowballs chance in Hades of changing that... The only folks we seem to be able to elect do seem to be a carbon copy of his/her predecessor... I guess it's not their fault, they are only doing the bidding of the people who bought them which is pretty much what we all do... I seem to be on a downer today, I hate winter.

[waterdog101]

the only way to stop a politician from being crooked, besides killing him or her is pass a law, that holds them accountable for anything crooked they do. they are all above the law and they know it. when they are caught doing, a crooked deal with the big money men. take everything they own, and go back three generations in their family and take everything their kids own, and then they will stop being crooked. they don't care to much about getting caught making millions. because they pass most of it down to their kids. and go to a special prison. but if they know their kids will lose it all as well, and they will be sent to a real prison. they would look at things from a different angle. I really don't care much for any thief.

[vetbass]

Barak Obama is not running the United States government; his close friend George Soros, a man with more money than most corporations, does the fiddlin' and Obama does the dancing. His fingerprints are all over every decision Obama makes and for good reason. He had contributed millions of dollars to Obama's campaign and his favorite projects. He is also making major contributions to the Occupy gang.

Do a search on George Soros and read some of the "deeds" that his billions of dollars are doing.

bug i hope your not blaming the current standing of our country on soros and obama--no doubt soros and his billions has influence on political decisions made by obama and probably a dozen other politicians democrat and republican are also influenced by soros--every decision made by every politician is heavily influenced by billionaires like soros and the koch brothers

the main problem is that money and therefore greed now control our country--you and i can vote in and vote out whoever we like and nothing will change until you stop the money

1. Limit political contributions made by companies/individuals/or any political group
2. Limit the amount that can be spent on any one political campaign by a candidate or superpacs
3. Limit the number/amount of time/money spent by lobbyists

4. MOST IMPORTANT is trying to stop the total elemination of God and his son from our country--the more distance we put between Jesus Christ and our country the worse things will continue to get for us all!

[waterdog101]

4. MOST IMPORTANT is trying to stop the total elemination of God and his son from our country--the more distance we put between Jesus Christ and our country the worse things will continue to get for us all!

Amen Brother Amen.