Who would want to be in Congress?

[finnbow]

I don't think I could stand the constant campaign that is part of the political scene. It might be interesting to serve one term without a thought of reelection. You could therefore do as you saw fit. The whole constituent services part of the job would suck too (although if you weren't worried about reelection, you wouldn't have to do much of that either.)

One of my best friends left a defense contractor job to become the Chief of Staff for a Blue Dog Democrat from northern Alabama. He dug the excitement and all for a little while, but the whole thing wore him down quickly. He bailed and went back to the military-industrial complex.

I serve on a couple of national consensus standards committees that, unknown to me when I got onboard, are very political (labor, management, manufacturers, insurers, Fed and state gov't. are represented). The technical aspects of the work are fun and interesting. The political bullshit is sickening.

[doucanoe]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Based on your comment on taxing the hell out of the job-exporting corporations, you would have at least vote from one of the posters on another thread here. I for one, would enjoy harassing you if you ever held a town hall meeting.

Regards,

D-Ray

If I had the balls to run for office and enough support to get elected, I'm sure a guy like you wouldn't phase me in the least

Next question???

RC

[Boreas]

I started to respond to this thread but when I looked at what I'd written I found I didn't really believe what I was writing. I'm in a far too cynical mood today.

I will say, however, that as long as there's big money in politics it will be very hard for any elected representative to retain his or her principles.

John

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by doucanoe

If I had the balls to run for office and enough support to get elected, I'm sure a guy like you wouldn't phase me in the least

Next question???

RC

C'mon, you know I'd make you quake in your boots. You'd go and spoil all of the fun though by offering pragmatic answers. They'd be wrong, but they wouldn't be the reactionary BS spouted by too many candidates.

Regards,

D-Ray

[doucanoe]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

C'mon, you know I'd make you quake in your boots. You'd go and spoil all of the fun though by offering pragmatic answers. They'd be wrong, but they wouldn't be the reactionary BS spouted by too many candidates.

Regards,

D-Ray

I guess when it comes to politics or general conversation, you just can't please everybody.




Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself.
Mark Twain

RC

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by doucanoe

I guess when it comes to politics or general conversation, you just can't please everybody.




Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself.
Mark Twain

RC

Sometimes when it comes to humor, however, I can't please anybody. Mark Twain, on the other hand, that old Sam knew how to write.

Regards,

D-ray

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Sometimes when it comes to humor, however, I can't please anybody. Mark Twain, on the other hand, that old Sam knew how to write.

Regards,

D-ray

Darned if he couldn't and his heart was in the right place too. He was a committed pacifist.

John

[doucanoe]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Sometimes when it comes to humor, however, I can't please anybody.

Regards,

D-ray

Aw, don't sell yourself short, D.

For me, forgetting to add the proper smilie at the end of most of my sarcastic comments gives the appearance that I have gone serious all of a sudden

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by doucanoe

Aw, don't sell yourself short, D.

For me, forgetting to add the proper smilie at the end of most of my sarcastic comments gives the appearance that I have gone serious all of a sudden

Don't worry about that. I'm six feet tall.

But, now you see what I mean, and why my son blames me for his pun proclivity.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Fast_Eddie]

The question gets to the heart of the matter. It's a shit job, but very difficult. People who have the ability to do it well have the ability to make a lot more money elsewhere. Seriously, you all heard how much a Wall Street banker makes just in bonuses.

So we count on people who have already got money to do it. Then we bitch that they all have a lot of money. Well what do you expect? This isn't so much different than trying to attract better employees to any job. I know when I get more money, better benefits and better hours I can hire better people.

But that'll never fly 'cause if Congress gives themselves a raise all hell breaks lose. "Why should he make more money than me just because he actually has a law degree, works a job that separates him from his family for months at a time, has no job security and everyone hates him?"

Uh, do the math. We're lucky they're as good as they are.