Author Topic: Congress avg.days worked. (Read 222 times)

Hajo · « **on:** December 20, 2006, 05:44:20 PM »

Just read a column in the Newspaper. Congress was in session 65 days.

Hmmmm.........considering all the downsizing that manufacturing, and most service oriented companies have had to do in the past 5 to 10 years I would find it reasonable to also downsize the number of our Representatives and Senators. I mean if they can get such a huge workload finished in 65 days it would seem reasonable that we the taxpayers are employing to many people to so call represent us in Congress. Also....in the last 7 years our Congress has enjoyed 4 pay raises that I know of....it may be more!

With that thought I propose that we the taxpayers and the so called employers of said Congressmen......considering the growing rate of home foreclosures....loss of jobs or good paying ones....a horrilble trade policy that no on seems in Congress to address... and watching Miss. La. and Alabama flood for 3 days without doing anything......employee at least half the number of Senators and Representatives that work for us. Just as Labor and Mangement of US Corps. have had to do in the last ten years. This will entail maybe combining jobs to get the job done efficiently...well maybe not. If they work twice as long they'll have worked 130 days.

Maybe the people of the US could get by with one third the number instead of half? Then..this of course would force these so called public servants to look for employment just as the every day American Citizen must do.

Gee......wonder what their outlook would be then?

Also...LOL if I were an employer interviewing a former public servant for a job without knowing initially.

Who was your previous employer?

The people of the United States!

really?

Yes....for 12 years in Congress.

Next!

Eagler · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2006, 06:08:34 PM »

divide that into a hourly rate and get set to puke ..

not to mention they vote themselves raises, get a tasty pension and have no term limits so all they have to do is get in the sack with the right group(s) and they have a job for life!

Halo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2006, 06:39:05 PM »

Would it surprise you to know that most members of Congress are lawyers?

Well, actually, I can't back that up. Kind of a snide bias on my part. Can't find anything that clearly summarizes the backgrounds of Senate and House members.

See, another Aces High thread that triggers a lemming outburst to feel part of the surge. Through the meadow and over the cliff, what the heck.

Closest I can come to backing up that legislation/lawyer feeling is John Stossel's book "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity" (Hyperion, New York, 2006) where he says on P. 176 "... 'only' 41% of congressmen are lawyers ...."

And that would be before the 2006 elections. Stossel's book has a whole chapter on The Lawsuit Racket where he contends, "But in practice, litigation hurts many more people than it helps."

This is from the 20/20 anchor who, after working 36 years in the media, concludes: "I want government to leave people alone. I think people should be free to do anything they want -- as long as they don't hurt anyone else. I may disagree with their choices, but I don't think The State should take their choices away." (P. 282)

Like most people, I have mixed feelings about lawyers. I value the good ones who preserve liberty and correct wrongs at a fair price by punishing the guilty and only the guilty.

I do not value any lawyers or others who through the legal system benefit unduly through unjust or disproportionate expenses, however many layers removed, from the innocent and law abiding, including taxpayers in general. That includes frivolous litigation costing insurance or tax settlements in or out of court.

Naturally wise legislation and courts always require JUDGEment, and as Stossel says, "virtually 100% of judges are [lawyers]." Who better to judge and interpet the laws, at least their most intricate parts, than judges and lawyers? It is a conundrum, isn't it.

Like anything, it comes down to trying to select GOOD judges and lawyers and presidents and teachers and military and congressional representatives, etc. and not bad ones. Always becomes a matter of faith and basic instinct. Another crucial reminder not only of the importance of elections, but very early in the process selecting CANDIDATES who are truly representative and worthy.

Okay, end of rant. Another futile little voice joining the chorus of discontment with bad things in general, too vast to challenge directly and too powerful to alter except for the incomprehensive general surge of history.

Still looking for the oracle ...

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2006, 06:54:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Halo
Would it surprise you to know that most members of Congress are lawyers?

Surprise me? Absolutely not, I view it as a major part of the problem.

Toad · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2006, 07:03:49 PM »

I'd pay them more if they'd all agree to a 25 year moratorium on new laws and confine themselves to approving judges and the rest of their non-lawmaking duties.

Hajo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2006, 07:04:36 PM »

Eagler....the more that I see the angrier I get. I've been in manufacturing for well over 30 years in Management btw.

Special interest groups...are special interest groups usually because they comprise a small percentage of our population, make the the most noise and get the most attention from our congressmen. Maybe because the majority of our population is apathetic? I would assume that if everything is ok with Joe America he doesn't want to make waves. If it doesn't hurt me then I guess everything is all right.

Joe America needs to be more aware and should pay more attention to what is going on around him. I'm not an alarmist who is yelling "the sky is falling the sky is falling!" But the base of America...the people who work hard to earn a living and pay the majority of taxes actually foot the bill for the ineptitude of our Congress! Methinks that Congress thinks the majority of us are idiots and pay no attention to what is transpiring. I don't think my Congressman could give me an answer if I asked him.."Well Tim....what did you do for us today?" Last week? Is my life better because of you? Are you seeing to it that my hard earned dollars that are footing the majority of the Bill (Middle Class) for the operation of this Government are being spent for the bettterment of the population of the US? Or are they being spent so that a few can reap great rewards? Why are my friends losing their jobs because of our Governments Idiotic trade Policies?
Tim...do you realize that consumers eventually won't be able to purchase big ticket items such as homes and automobiles if their wages aren't comensurate to their ability to pay for them? How do you propose to let the children of the Middle Class afford a growing more expensive cost of higher Education obtain the money necessary without barrowing and mortaging their futures?

These are just a few of the basic questions I have. And I know the answer would be an "Harumph..well I will propose yadada yadada" and nothing will be attempted without a Lobbyists backing...

Again.....let's put some of our Congressmen in the unemployment line....with no benefits along with being unemployed...and having outstanding debt. Maybe they'll be able to connect with Joe America.

lazs2 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:36:41 AM »

They should be paid by the hour and they should have their hours cut.

lazs

Mini D · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:15:32 AM »

It's odd that you think that congress does all of its work "in session".

Scatcat · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:20:20 AM »

What is even more absurd than the pay for little work done is the retirment and health bennys they receive. It is an absolute ripoff of the American taxpayer.