There are two constituencies who are over-represented in Washington -- morons and millionaires. If you're a non-moron and a less-than-millionaire, it might be time to consider providing a little balance in D.C.
VoteRae.org:
I truly believe that all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But our government doesn't.
Our government is a millionaires club that caters to the rich.
In fact, it's made up of the rich. The annual salary of a senator in 2006 was $165,200. In 2003, at least 40 senators were millionaires. And it’s not just the Republicans who are wealthy. 18 of these millionaires were Democrats. In fact, the top five on the list were Democrats (John Kerry, Herb Kohl, John Rockfeller, Jon Corzine and Dianne Feinstein, in order).
It's the same story in the U.S. House of Representatives. 123 of the 435 members of the House are millionaires, or almost 30%.
How can these people claim to represent the American population when less than 1% of the rest of us are millionaires? There is no way they can appreciate the day in and day out struggles faced by most of us. These people are rich and powerful and do not know what it’s like to have to make ends meet like we do. They don’t have to worry about paying their bills, providing for their families, and what will happen if they lose their job. They don’t have to worry about the quality of the public school system or paying skyrocketing tuition rates. They don’t have to worry about their kids going off to war. (In fact, Congress keeps sending other people’s children off to die and be maimed.) These elected officials are out of touch with the rest of us who stand to lose everything if a family member falls seriously ill.
So 40% of the Senate and 30% of the House represent 1% of all voters. Let's put that into perspective. About 1% of all americans are schizophrenic. 1% use cocaine. 1% believe the Holocaust was a hoax. 1% are atheists. 1% are Jehovah's Witnesses. 1% suffer from hyperhydrosis, or excessive sweating of the palms, armpits, and soles of the feet. 1% are represented by 40% of Senators and 30% of Representatives.
Sound about right to you?
Tags: news politics congress senate elections green Rae Vogeler Herb Kohl