Most citizens in the States have felt the affects of the economy. Myself for example, came back from being overseas (I planned on being over there for the rest of my life or least a very very long time, so you could imagine the money that I had already laid down over there) just a half dozen months after the recession had started (the recession started roughly around November 2007 which means it probably was on its way a few months before that). Before coming back I had a job that I enjoyed with decent compensation. If I really wanted to make the money I could have stayed here instead of going overseas and worked for a very well known and prestigious organization as one of their top obesity researchers.
Since being back, its been tough not just with economy being bad but the job market as well. For the past year, I've tried to find actual members of Congress net wealth. This is quite problematic though. Congress and the executive branch have to give disclosure of their personal finances by May 15 of each year. According to the law, EACH MEMBER HAS TO give a list of their assets and liabilities, their income which excludes their $141,000 for being a part of the congress elite, asset transactions, even their spouses income, and even more. They don't have to disclose any personal property unless they're making income on it. There are about 237 members of Congress that are millionaires. From 2007 to 2008, the average net income of Congress has gone from 2.27 million to 1.79 million. This information came from the linked article, just so no one can say I plagiarized.
If you go to the link (please go to it. its quite interesting) I gave, don't let the Congress members who have negative net wealth income fool you. By law, they just need to report their spouses income. This negates any property that they own or what most politicians do is make their children, close friend, or lawyer as a coexecutor (as long as its not their spouse). Once they have done this they no long have to disclose it because it would be in violation of that other person.
As it has been seen, it has been harder to get Congress to actually disclose their net income or should I say to honestly disclose it. If you look at Mr. Rangel for example he says that he only has done what others have done (which scares me) and that he made some mistakes (essentially pleading ignorance).
Congress was never intended for an individual to get rich OR as a life long career.
I've seen a lot of dead bodies. I've seen dead bodies that have been so water logged. If you haven't seen a dead body that has been waterlogged you might have seen a dead animal that has been water logged. The person doesn't look human nor does that animal look like an animal. The body usually balloons several times the actual size, so disfiguring and stretching everything.
Essentially, this is what has happened in Congress. Members of Congress do not look like their constituents or regular people for that matter. This trascends party as well, so it doesn't matter what party you are. Congress does not represent the majority of the people at least on a financial net worth level. This is the point that most rational and logical individuals should be able to agree on.
