Wow! This was a really enlightening article.

I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view

graham indefinite Smucker tumbler potential

What irritates me about this story is that members of Congress talk about using business as a model, then turn around and ignore what a business would do. If you start a new job, chances are you aren’t going to be able to “pimp out” your new office. You are going to utilize resources that are there and evaluate new options in terms of their future returns. I don’t even begrudge the odd popcorn machine, but really the goal should be the ROI.

My main gripe is really off topic. I see this as another case of people in Congress being in charge of how money is spent, but not feeling the consequences.

I would be a lot more willing to accept their spending priorities if I knew that they were going to come back to their constituency during the holiday recess and get a job at Wal-Mart, not “do the peoples’ business by going to fundraisers. I mean the whole minimum-wage experience: taking the bus to work every day, wearing that little blue vest (as opposed to the fancy red one), having a dinky apartment (family must participate in the experience) with a landlord who can’t afford to fix the security gate (or is too cheap to do so), etc.

Hence the “no pension” and “Medicaid as medical provider” suggestions.

Are PLASMAs necessary? Whatever happened to regular big tvs?

My question: why does everyone have their own video-conference equipment? If we’re going to “run government efficiently, just like a business” then there should be a pool of conference rooms, with video conference capability, available for every congressman to reserve on an as-needed basis – first-come, first served, just like in any big corporation.

On another note: I am beginning to think that members of Congress should be paid using the same standard as other unelected members of the government. Whenever they give themselves a ##% increase in pay, that same rate of increase should apply across the board to all Federal employees. It would certainly make the news if everyone employed in government got a raise.

I also think it would be good to buy an apartment building and house the members of Congress together – you know, like an army barracks. If it’s good enough for the troops, it’s good enough for the leadership right? (It would also be an interesting experiment sociologically speaking. I wonder who would steal their neighbor’s paper…hmmm…). Add access to a great kitchen with a couple of 5-star chefs and a dining room to entertain diplomatic guests and voila – taxpayer savings! You don’t need a raise to buy a little place in Georgetown or Reston, if you already live in a luxury apartment building, conveniently located next door to the capitol building.

Last – no pension, only social security (they want to serve the country, not get rich right?) and congressional healthcare provided by Medicaid. They shoule have to wait in line just like the rest of us.

Dead Elephant!

#38 What did Old Bushie and his family give to charity? Why do you always bring up John Kerry or a Dem to make a point when the Corrupt Republican are going down, down, down.