We Pay Them HOW Much?

There’s an interesting post on The Daily Curmudgeon today. Mr. Curmudgeon points out that our current House of Representatives has been in session for a mere 19 days ALL YEAR. In the first month of 2006 House members were in session for 47 hours. That’s about one work week for the rest of us. It’s projected that they’ll spend 97 days in Washington in 2006.

For that we pay them $165,200 a year.

For shame! If you take a week off for St. Patrick’s day, you should forfeit a week’s pay. I’ve been at my job for 13 years, and I have to fight to get two week’s vacation a year. Why should congressmen get better treatment? After their first year on the job, they get one week vacation. If they take more time off than that, it should be unpaid.

I’m disappointed in our government.

So THAT’S How They Did It

It comes as no surprise, but it’s so pervasive these days that it’s hard to see. The Republicans are in the minority, but it doesn’t seem that way because they quite simply yell louder. I flipped past that Bill Maher show the other day. He likes to get a conservative, a liberal, and a comedian together and see what happens. During the two minutes I watched the show I had the pleasure of seeing Florida republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen holler, bellow, finger-shake, yell, and generally do everything she could to intimidate the other two guests on the show – all without ever once really saying anything.

This is how the Bush administration has functioned since about 1999. They simply out shout the opposition. It doesn’t matter that what they’re yelling is utter nonsense – simply by saying it loudly and often, they get their way.

I’m not saying that Democrats are angels, but the trend seems to be… Well, you know where I’m going with this.

I’m disappointed in our government.