Thursday, May 24, 2012
Political Mayhem Thursday: Who would want to be in Congress, anyways?
As we enter the political season running up to the next election, I am beginning to wonder who would want these jobs. After all:
1) The pay isn't that great relative to private sector jobs.
2) Expenses are high, if you try to maintain a home in DC and one in your District.
3) The campaigns are brutal, and people will dig up anything and everything you ever did.
4) Candidates spend much of their time groveling for money, and
5) The atmosphere in DC is pretty poisonous, too.
Seriously, though-- who would want that job, and why?
1) The pay isn't that great relative to private sector jobs.
2) Expenses are high, if you try to maintain a home in DC and one in your District.
3) The campaigns are brutal, and people will dig up anything and everything you ever did.
4) Candidates spend much of their time groveling for money, and
5) The atmosphere in DC is pretty poisonous, too.
Seriously, though-- who would want that job, and why?
Comments:
<< Home
Independently wealthy narcissistic patriots with a stomach for vitriolic rhetoric.
# posted by 
: 10:06 AM
: 10:06 AM
Couple (or three or four) things:
1. For the most part, I think people get into politics b/c they have strong beliefs and want to make a difference.
2. The people who stay in politics? That may be a slightly different story.
3, How bad is Congress? I think it is instructive to consider how few people get fed up and leave. Most stay for as long as they can.
4. An incomplete list of why it is good to be one of the 535: 1) you are treated like American royalty, living the life of a rock star, limos, front of the line perks, beautiful men and women come from all over the country starry-eyed and think you are awesome. Power has its privileges. 2) the money is not that bad. The salary looks pretty decent to a community college teacher. The benefits are great (travel, expense accounts, healthcare, retirement, etc.). And most of these guys die very wealthy. 3) Once you are there it is really not that brutal. Most incumbents win (many incumbents run uncontested). And you seemingly have to do something really stupid and have extremely bad luck to wander into the public eye in a negative way (think Anthony Weiner).
I agree with Oso: patriots and/or narcissists.
1. For the most part, I think people get into politics b/c they have strong beliefs and want to make a difference.
2. The people who stay in politics? That may be a slightly different story.
3, How bad is Congress? I think it is instructive to consider how few people get fed up and leave. Most stay for as long as they can.
4. An incomplete list of why it is good to be one of the 535: 1) you are treated like American royalty, living the life of a rock star, limos, front of the line perks, beautiful men and women come from all over the country starry-eyed and think you are awesome. Power has its privileges. 2) the money is not that bad. The salary looks pretty decent to a community college teacher. The benefits are great (travel, expense accounts, healthcare, retirement, etc.). And most of these guys die very wealthy. 3) Once you are there it is really not that brutal. Most incumbents win (many incumbents run uncontested). And you seemingly have to do something really stupid and have extremely bad luck to wander into the public eye in a negative way (think Anthony Weiner).
I agree with Oso: patriots and/or narcissists.
Not a job for me....
I think they receive a lot of really good benefits detailed by Waco Farmer and realize that the benefit package won't be nearly as good if they leave. And if they have any pre-existing health conditions they won't be able to afford insurance.
Also, if you have had a somewhat successful career in the corporate or education world you probably have too many skeletons in your closet to run easily.
I think they receive a lot of really good benefits detailed by Waco Farmer and realize that the benefit package won't be nearly as good if they leave. And if they have any pre-existing health conditions they won't be able to afford insurance.
Also, if you have had a somewhat successful career in the corporate or education world you probably have too many skeletons in your closet to run easily.
I'm with Campbell. I wanted a career in politics, but there's no way I could afford it now. Not only that, my personal life is too complicated, I don't have the stomach to fund raise and I am not "conservative" enough to attract the votes required to secure a Republican nomination nor am I "liberal" enough to join the Democratic Party.
Not for me. Happiness is not found in money or fame, which are both incredibly fleeting.
For once I find myself agreeing with Waco Farmer (I'm practically a socialist, so we seldom agree on anything, but his take on the reality of life in Congress is realistic and pragmatic).
Congress seems so Faustian. You sell your soul to get in, are capable of saying or doing anything to stay, and in spite of strongly held beliefs and values and ethics, you end up giving yourself away to causes and laws you don't believe in.
Sounds like a very slimy way to live, and it doesn't depend on which side of the aisle you sit, it's all politics, it's all scummy.
Sorry, but I have no hope for any of those people.
For once I find myself agreeing with Waco Farmer (I'm practically a socialist, so we seldom agree on anything, but his take on the reality of life in Congress is realistic and pragmatic).
Congress seems so Faustian. You sell your soul to get in, are capable of saying or doing anything to stay, and in spite of strongly held beliefs and values and ethics, you end up giving yourself away to causes and laws you don't believe in.
Sounds like a very slimy way to live, and it doesn't depend on which side of the aisle you sit, it's all politics, it's all scummy.
Sorry, but I have no hope for any of those people.
In light of the recent report that members of Congress, on average, speak using language at a 10th grade level, I think we might say, in answer to "who would want to be in Congress?", "people who aren't all that literate".
Or, as one pundit said, "Our Congress is composed of people who were left behind."
Or, as one pundit said, "Our Congress is composed of people who were left behind."
IPLawGuy - welcome to the middle. This is where I live and I am contantly bruised (blue & red make purple).
Thanks to my "practically socialist" brother, the Medievalist. I appreciate the shout out. I am always intrigued by how good it feels to agree with someone. I hope we can repeat this happy meeting of the minds in the future.
Yesterday I was approached by a man with his hand out who announced that he was Gary Peters. Congressman Gary Peters is a very bright and competent man. This was a very cold experience. He was focused on the election and not on me. Congressmen spend most of their career raising money and leave representing the people to their staff. Our expensive election system wastes good people like Gary Peters. Get the money out of our elections and good people will want to be in Congress. Dad
Post a Comment
# posted by : 11:01 AM
: 11:01 AM << Home
