I work 226 days every year, why doesn't my Congress?

[Stiganator]

2007 Senate Session Schedule

I work 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year - minus roughly 2 weeks for holidays, sickness, and vacation.

I work all 226 days away from my family, because that is my job. If I told my boss I would only work 150 days, he would hand me a pink slip.

I am expected to understand every protocol I am responsible for. If I fail to follow protocol, use the wrong one, or write a faulty protocol, its my ass.

Why is it that our congressmen are allow to work only 150 days per year for a salary roughly 4 times greater than my own? Is their family more important than mine?

Do they not realize that they signed up for a job that is supposed to serve the people, not serve the people 66% of the time?

Do they not realize that being elected to serve as a representative to thousands of people is an honor worth more than money, why not a more reasonable wage (60-80k instead of 160-200k).

 

[Wreckem]

Uh, you obviously have no clue what you are talking about.

Just because they aren't on capital hill doesnt mean they arent working.

When Congress is in recess they are in district working. On the Hill or not Congressman consistantly work 6 days a week, often times 12-14 hour days.

Theres a reason why Congressmen who look young going in age quickly in 4-5 years of being in DC.

 

[Stiganator]

I did indeed overlook that possibility, thank you for pointing that out. Shouldn't there be people working around the clock to fix broken laws though?

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I did indeed overlook that possibility, thank you for pointing that out. Shouldn't there be people working around the clock to fix broken laws though?

The last thing that I want is congress spending any more time trying to "fix" anything.....

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I did indeed overlook that possibility, thank you for pointing that out. Shouldn't there be people working around the clock to fix broken laws though?

You dont have to be on the hill to be working on legislation.

In reality, a Congressman doesnt go into every detail of every bill. He has a staff dedicated for that. Theres not a enough time in the day to sort through the thousands of bills the are proposed each year. Some bills can be thousands of pages long.

 

[Nebor]

Can you imagine how many stupid laws and regulations we would have if congress was always in session? "The government that governs least, governs best."

 

[Arglebargle]

Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

 

[Siddhartha]

nm

 

[Arglebargle]

Some of the corrupt thieves are not at all lazy.

 

[BrownTown]

Well for one thing congressmen have to be elected every 2 years and senators 6, so theres alot of work just keeping your job. Not to mention that the fact that you gotta figure out what your constituents want and do a bunch of events. I would say that the vast majority of congressmen work harder than you do, maybe its not hard work, i mean attending a bunch of random events where they serve you good food and treat you like a celebrity ain't a bad life, but on the other hand, its not like they are going on cruises every time congress gets out.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Arglebargle
Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

snicker worthy

 

[EagleKeeper]

"Fact finding" trips(junkets) are very stressful

A Congressman has to at times stretch the justification for going on one and why the taxpayer needs to foot the bill to bring the family with them.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Arglebargle
Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

I have no need for further laws. We can abolish the thing now.

 

[piasabird]

Just because I am not at my place of work does not mean that I am not working.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Arglebargle
Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

I have no need for further laws. We can abolish the thing now.

Oh, don't need immigration laws fixed?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I did indeed overlook that possibility, thank you for pointing that out. Shouldn't there be people working around the clock to fix broken laws though?

The last thing that I want is congress spending any more time trying to "fix" anything.....

It's official. Hell has truly frozen over. JD and I agree on something.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Arglebargle
Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

I have no need for further laws. We can abolish the thing now.

Oh, don't need immigration laws fixed?

if they won't bother enforcing existing laws then why should we expect them to enforce new ones? laws don't do shit if they aren't enforced.

 

[homercles337]

According to my benefits package, I work 52 - 9 weeks a year. In reality i work 51 weeks a year. I love my work. Apparently congress hates its work. Fire the lot of them! Oh, wait, ...

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Arglebargle
Though 'governs least' does not mean 'does not govern at all'.

I worked for a state legislature for a decade. During that time, my co-workers and I came to the conclusion that 20% of the legislators were good persons who were trying to do the best for the people, of whatever political stripe. Then there were the 60% who were venial, money grubbing, and/or power hungry schmucks, out for their own aggrandizement. And finally there were the last 20%, who were too stupid to be in either of the other two groups.

I have no need for further laws. We can abolish the thing now.

Oh, don't need immigration laws fixed?

if they won't bother enforcing existing laws then why should we expect them to enforce new ones? laws don't do shit if they aren't enforced.

Exactly. Just start failing to enforce certain laws on the border militias, and immigration will be taken care of.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Wreckem
Uh, you obviously have no clue what you are talking about.

Just because they aren't on capital hill doesnt mean they arent working.

When Congress is in recess they are in district working. On the Hill or not Congressman consistantly work 6 days a week, often times 12-14 hour days.

Theres a reason why Congressmen who look young going in age quickly in 4-5 years of being in DC.

Yup,

They do a lot of work in their home district when they're not in D.C. A lot of people are always trying to see them, whether it's of some type of personal nature (e.g., some constiuent having problems getting their VA benefits) or comunity problem (e.g., trying to get a new federal post office in some newly incorporated area).

Even in my rather small area there are always instances in the local newspaper of someone getting help from one of our reps in DC.

Fern

 

[marincounty]

Don't like it? Get yourself elected to Congress. I think you qualify for a pension in like 6 years too.
OTOH, Congress is hard working compared to the example of GWB.

Bush on track to become the vacation president," Julie Mason headlined in the August 9, 2007, edition of the Houston Chronicle:[1]

"On Thursday, Bush left for a weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine, and his family's summer compound, Walker's Point. On Monday, he heads to his Crawford retreat, where he has spent all or part of 418 days of his presidency, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS News White House correspondent and meticulous record-keeper.
"...The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with 17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily."
"I guess you could look at it this way -- the more he's on vacation, the less damage he can do to the country," Pam Spaulding wrote August 12, 2007.[2]

Text

 

[boomerang]

To answer your question, Congress works whatever amount of days they want because they make the rules.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I did indeed overlook that possibility, thank you for pointing that out. Shouldn't there be people working around the clock to fix broken laws though?

You dont have to be on the hill to be working on legislation.

In reality, a Congressman doesnt go into every detail of every bill. He has a staff dedicated for that. Theres not a enough time in the day to sort through the thousands of bills the are proposed each year. Some bills can be thousands of pages long.

Unfortunately, there's money to be made in both breaking and fixing legislation. It's a self-perpetuating entity.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: marincounty
Don't like it? Get yourself elected to Congress. I think you qualify for a pension in like 6 years too.
OTOH, Congress is hard working compared to the example of GWB.

Bush on track to become the vacation president," Julie Mason headlined in the August 9, 2007, edition of the Houston Chronicle:[1]

"On Thursday, Bush left for a weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine, and his family's summer compound, Walker's Point. On Monday, he heads to his Crawford retreat, where he has spent all or part of 418 days of his presidency, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS News White House correspondent and meticulous record-keeper.
"...The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with 17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily."
"I guess you could look at it this way -- the more he's on vacation, the less damage he can do to the country," Pam Spaulding wrote August 12, 2007.[2]

Text

I am about as far from a Bush supporter as you can get, but I'll tell you, anyone that thinks that the POTUS has anything that resembles a real vacation is just dead wrong. Wherever the President is, the White House, his ranch, his hacienda, Camp David, taking a dump or in the air flying he's working.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not slamming you, and the quotes are nice, but any jounalist who creates this crap is no journalist.

The notion that the President of the U.S. gets a vacation is really absurd. The presidency is the true definition of a 24/7 365 job.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: marincounty
Don't like it? Get yourself elected to Congress. I think you qualify for a pension in like 6 years too.
OTOH, Congress is hard working compared to the example of GWB.

Bush on track to become the vacation president," Julie Mason headlined in the August 9, 2007, edition of the Houston Chronicle:[1]

"On Thursday, Bush left for a weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine, and his family's summer compound, Walker's Point. On Monday, he heads to his Crawford retreat, where he has spent all or part of 418 days of his presidency, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS News White House correspondent and meticulous record-keeper.
"...The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with 17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily."
"I guess you could look at it this way -- the more he's on vacation, the less damage he can do to the country," Pam Spaulding wrote August 12, 2007.[2]

Text

I am about as far from a Bush supporter as you can get, but I'll tell you, anyone that thinks that the POTUS has anything that resembles a real vacation is just dead wrong. Wherever the President is, the White House, his ranch, his hacienda, Camp David, taking a dump or in the air flying he's working.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not slamming you, and the quotes are nice, but any jounalist who creates this crap is no journalist.

The notion that the President of the U.S. gets a vacation is really absurd. The presidency is the true definition of a 24/7 365 job.

Yeah I was about to say, hes hosted many foriegn leaders at the "Western White House".

Most of his time out of DC conicides with Congress being in recess.