The Implications of Millionaires in Congress

The Center for Responsive Politics has done us all a good turn revealing that roughly half of American congressmen are millionaires, but left it up to us to consider the implications. Though they characterized this as “a watershed moment. . .when law makers are debating unemployment, food stamps, and minimum wage.”

Exactly. What does a millionaire know about coming up $10 or $20 short on the week's groceries?

Any American who has ever been unemployed for any length of time, knows until the Great Recession extensions, unemployment lasted 26 weeks (a lousy six mos.) and ended whether you got a job or not. (In civilized countries you are classified as unemployed until you're employed.)

One man I know with formidable skills, cobbled together a living taking any work he could find for 7 years. Of course, with no health care or pension and coming close to losing his house in the process.

What does a millionaire know about that?
Statistically, however, this worker was listed as employed because the U.S. government only counts the people receiving unemployment in the official figures. Unemployment is down from 7% to 6.7! It's probably closer to 20%!!!

Clearly, there is a correlation between all these millionaires and number of bills and decisions at all levels of government that are favorable to business and shareholders, resulting in the persistent dismantling of the U.S.middle class and the near-total demise of unions?

Though Boeing is riding high and v. profitable it was able to strong-arm its machinists into accepting a contract that crashed their pensions. Why? Elected officials all over this country offered Boeing great deals to attract the company there. Yeah, elected officials handed a highly profitable company the means to undermine its workers. And we elected these people! The people who passed the law that Boeing workers couldn't strike.

Cast a Critical Eye on the people you vote for and make sure they share your values!