Un-Liberaled Woman

Are you asking him to change his ways, Congress?  

For as much as I hear people complain about CEO-pay, private jets, etc for failing companies, I don’t hear nearly (or even close to it) as much outrage over our legislatures who participate in the same amount IF NOT MORE questionable spending activities. Here’s ABC building back some of their credibility exposing what our legislatures have been up to with OUR money (via Black & Right). Also, keep in mind that Congress’ approval rating is right now around 30%. Last year it reached a low point of around 10% – if that isn’t failing I don’t know what is.

If this was a one-time incident I would probably look past it, but there have been too many instances of this crooked behavior coming out of Congress for years (Smancy Pelotox’s private planes and SUVs to attend her “Save the Earth”-type rallies, Charlie Rangel’s tax evasion and his 5-star, first-class trips to spots like the Dominican Republic and Florida, or the current administration’s love for tax evasion). Yet, citizens don’t say anything about it and what makes it even worse is that this is our money they are playing “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” with. At least the criticized CEOs are earning money through products and services, and the money used is typically from revenue brought in by customers that choose to pay for those products/services. The essential difference is that we are forced to pay in taxes, not by choice, to fund the outrageous spending acts by Congress.

So just think about this the next time you go to gripe about CEO pay, corporate spending, etc. There are always going to be some bad eggs out there whose behavior risks ruining the reputation of the 100,000s of CEOs/businesses who are doing things the right way. Everyone has the opportunity in this country to work your way up the corporate ladder – we shouldn’t throw stones at those successful businessmen who are having one rough year out of 20 successful ones but then not criticize the legislature who invokes this kind of psychological class warfare while engaging in the same “unacceptable” spending behavior as well.  If CEOs are crooked – then, yes they should pay the price. But just because you are a politician does not mean you are shielded by some Beltway forcefield created out of unicorns and excuses for the same behavior.