Nice Work If You Can Get It

Dick Morris and Eileen McGann recently wrote an article highlighting the lack of confidence the American public has in this current Congress. The article (Mommy Lets Your Babies Grow Up To Be Congressman) is a companion piece to their new book, “Outrage.”

Morris and McGann pointed out that in 2006 our representatives worked a whopping total of 103 days, which give or take a few days, has been the average since Harry Truman was President. Wow…our poor representatives must be exhausted.

Lets put this in some perceptive:

• The average American worker works approximately 1,978 hours a year, or 248 days.
• The average median income for an American worker is $46,000.
• The average American roughly makes $185.00 each workday for their efforts.

• The average Congressman works approximately 103 days a year (145 days less than the average America worker).
• The minimum amount a Congressman can make is $165,500.00.
• That means the average Congressman roughly makes $1606.00 for every day they work!

Mind you this is before taxes, and does not include all the other perks afford our representatives. When you look at those numbers do you feel you are getting your money’s worth?

Americans are the hardest working of any of the industrial nations, yet you would not know it by looking at the work ethic of our representatives. I really think they should consider changing the Seal of Congress to read “Let Them Eat Cake.” Oh wait...........that one is already taken.

Jeff Chidester