We not just watching the destruction of one party...

[daleanime]

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2012, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

it's our entire system of government thats failing. Is there any one here who believes that our 'elected' officials will do the right thing?

For our seniors?

For our vets?

For the homeless?

For the kids in school?

For any of us making less then $400,000 a year?

Deal with Climate Change?(Good Lord how did I forget the worst issue facing us?)


There are no problems facing us that can not be dealt with, but they all require work, effort and yes money. And we can't have that.

[KansDem]

1. 47% of Congress are millionaires.

That says it all...

[daleanime]

2. Big part of the problem.

[Egalitarian Thug]

9. Even more than 47%.

[rhett o rick]

13. And many if not most not in the top 1% are looking for a fast track way there. nm

[daleanime]

19. Thats an interesting question...

What effect does a term or two in office have on personnel income?

[Democracyinkind]

27. It's mostly what happens after those terms as far as the money is concerned

Hooray the revolving doors - the one path that still leads to the american dream (being rich, the one where you don't actually have to be at sleep to believe it)

[KansDem]

25. Thanks!

I was getting my info from here:

47% of Congress Members Millionaires — a Status Shared by Only 1% of Americans

It’s no secret that many members of the U.S. House and Senate are millionaires — 47 percent of them — their salaries paid in part by the American taxpayers.

The Center for Responsive Politics has crunched the numbers and released the results on its Open Secrets blog:

“About 47 percent of Congress, or 249 current members are millionaires. … In 2010, the estimated median net worth of a current U.S. senator stood at an average of $2.56 million,” according to the Center’s research.

“Despite the global economic meltdown in 2008 and the sluggish recovery that followed, that’s up about 7.6 percent from an estimated median net worth of $2.38 million in 2009 … and up 13 percent from a median net worth of $2.27 million in 2008. … Fully 36 Senate Democrats, and 30 Senate Republicans reported an average net worth in excess of $1 million in 2010. The same was true for 110 House Republicans and 73 House Democrats.”

“The vast majority of members of Congress are quite comfortable, financially, while many of their own constituents suffer from economic hardships,” said Sheila Krumholz at the Center For Responsive Politics. “Few Americans enjoy the same financial cushions maintained by most members of Congress — or the same access to market-altering information that could yield personal, financial gains.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/47-of-congress-members-millionaires-a-status-shared-by-only-1-of-americans/

Awful lot of red in your diagram...

[Egalitarian Thug]

28. If you really want to risk a stroke, look into how many of them came into Congress as middle-class

and become multimillionaires through "lucky break" after "lucky break" plus the spouses and relatives that suddenly become qualified to make high 6 and 7 figure salaries.

I'm not going to name any names, but both parties are rife with this blatant corruption. No matter who's in control, it never sees the light of day.

[daleanime]

31. I don't think I dare to...

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2012, 05:46 PM - Edit history (1)

the explosion might take some Innocent bystanders with me.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

3. Our system of govt was doomed to fail...

It needs to be more mob rule than this republic bullshit.

[daleanime]

5. When the people 'elected' to office...

feel free to ignore 70-80% of the population, you known change of some kind is in the air.

[DevonRex]

8. It needed to be

a parliamentary system. But it's not.

[socialindependocrat]

16. It would probably be more fair if we had mob rule... n/t

[Wellstone ruled]

4. This is all part and parcel of

the Rethugs governing. Look around and you can see how this all played out in states legislatures nation wide. Never before have we had a greater divide between earning groups as we have now. Very obvious as to whom the Regthugs masters are and it is none other than the 1%ers. Push back for the Occupy movement. The truth the media refuses to report.

[daleanime]

6. Which is why they want to change the internet now...

can't have uncontrolled news sources.

[global1]

7. When You Talk Compromise Immediately Both Sides Take The Most Extreme....

positions and nobody wants to lose.

[daleanime]

11. I don't think so...

how many people actually want to cut SS? 10-20%? But it keeps coming up in budget talks while military spending (which is over 60% of our budget) does not.

Can you tell me why that is?

[FiveGoodMen]

33. Really?

The Democrats take the most extreme positions?

Name some of those extreme positions, please.

[closeupready]

10. K&R

[octoberlib]

12. We need to start making sure actual Democrats are elected to office

Not Republicans masquerading as Democrats.

[forestpath]

14. I sure don't believe it. I can't believe I was so happy on election night -

and now I don't think 's much to choose from between Obama and Romney.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

15. The difference between Sotomayor and a Scalia.

That's significant.

[forestpath]

23. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if he chooses a Republican next time.

He loves to pick Republicans for things.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

29. No he won't....

He chooses Republicans because Lincoln is his idol....I wish Doris Kearns Goodwin had waited to write that damned book....

[daleanime]

17. When Obama was elected for his first term,

I remember how nuts this place was. How much hope we all had that finally we could start to repair some of the damage done during the Bu$h. Videos of crowds singing in the streets.

Dear Lord why couldn't half that energy been used constructively.

[forestpath]

24. I think part of me knew this would happen..I was just in denial.

But it doesn't take me long to see reality.

[bvar22]

39. I remember too.

[font size=5]Obama's Army, Jan. 21, 2009[/font]

[font size=5]"Oh, What could have been."[/font]

[socialindependocrat]

18. Of the wealthy, by the wealthy, for the wealthy

IF you give money to the middle class, they will spend it!

Spending money = financial recovery

Most of the money in the recovery of the stock market went to the wealthy and into savings and investments
thus taking money out of the economy and thus giving us a more sluggish recovery.

[daleanime]

20. And you better believe that their using it...

to make sure it stays that way.

[leftstreet]

21. Voters destroyed the GOP. Dems are doing it to themselves

Sadly

[randome]

22. For almost 30 years, Republicans have held the reigns of power.

Even when they were in the minority, they held enough of the reigns to keep us in check.

That seems about to change. And I am not being optimistic.

[villager]

26. Add "for climate change," to the top of that list!

Sadly. Terrifyingly.

[daleanime]

30. Done!

Thanks for reminding me before time ran out!

[WinkyDink]

32. Boiled down to: MONEY TALKS.

[FiveGoodMen]

34. Money talks, and Bullshit ...

... always seems to be backed by an awful lot of money!

[coldbeer]

35. The party has never changed

[daleanime]

37. I wish...

both parties have been dragged so far right that Raygun could pass as a moderate dem these days.

[Bonhomme Richard]

36. I will never understand how a minority of Neanderthals is able to.....

drive the policies of this nation.

[daleanime]

38. The 1% fools enough people to predent...

got to have some reason to buy those media outlets.

[Doctor_J]

40. 85% of Americans want NO cuts to SS/Medicare

yet they were proposed by a Dem president.

We have no representation in DC.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

41. Fuck Congress.

Why not figure out a new way to organise society ... perhaps more equitably.

[daleanime]

43. The problem is that we have allowed our government to be purchased...

When our congressman receives his/her payoff, their not selling themselves-their selling us.

[upi402]

42. I don't feel like 80% of our elected officials will do anything for us

Climate change is over-arching. And crickets we get.

Greg Palast was right.