Dialing for Dollars -- a Major way in which Congress is Broken
A Congress critter's real job ...
No wonder only 14% of the people think Congress is doing a good job.
Because as Sixty Minutes reports, they spend most of their time on the Hill, NOT actually doing their jobs -- of representing us. They’ve got other responsibilities that are first on the To-Do List ...
April 24, 2016 -- Link to Video.
Stop fundraising, start working, says Fla. Rep. David Jolly, who is seeking to ban federal-elected officials from dialing for dollars. Norah O’Donnell reports.
Stunning Facts uncovered by this investigation:
• Congress reps have to make on average $18,000 a day, to get re-elected.
• The Parties recommend Congress reps spend 30 hours a week raising this money.
• The schedule of Congress is based around these 30 hours of "Dialing for Dollars".
• Congress reps are given Telemarketing Scripts to guide them in their cold calling work.
• Since such calls are illegal from the halls of Congress, each Party has dedicated nearby Call-Centers where this “work” can be done.
...
Simply incredible. Watch the Report.
Comments
My downloading speed is terribly slow,
so I couldn't watch much of the video, but I think I get the gist.
... American government selling all of itself for dollars. Brainwashing as a commodity. "Give me money" to buy my way into favor with the ones who have all the money, so they can buy your destiny … so sad.
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The latest Rasmussen survey I could find with paying
has "non-affiliated" voters (? voters, I think) have a 6% approval rating of Congress. So your 14% is probably high.
Why are we paying these people a good salary (with benefits) to spend no time doing their jobs? Civics courses are a lie about what goes on at the lofty levels of government, who seem mostly to dedicate themselves to keeping their jobs by not working at their jobs.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
I was quoting
the 60 Minutes report.
I thought it was lower myself,
but it is so hard to find the definitive poll.
Congress's approval rating is 0% in my household.
Nice essay. Thanks for posting. I saw a documentary about 6 or 8 years ago. An old grassroots "ward man" was interviewed. He said that back in the day, they'd hear that Joe Candidate wanted to run for Congress. He said "We'd have him come in to meet with a bunch of people. We'd pepper him with questions... 'Where do you stand on trade unions?' 'What's your position on tax policy?' and so on. He looked glum and said "Now? We only ask one question...'How much money do you think you can raise to run your campaign?' "
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
Typo in my lede
I don't pay for Ras. But I read that in a Feb report text. And that poll may depend on the week. And of course, never is applied to one's own Congressfolk, at least until recently. The natives are restless.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Fundraising is just another word for Panhandling.
Call centers?? Members of Congress should have to stand on a busy corner and beg for sustenance like the rest of America.
These Call-Centers
should be illegal too.
Congress is there to do the People's Business,
-- Not their own.
Bonkers
Only in America
the Land that puts wealth beyond all else,
would such a thing be considered "normal".
I think that Pope Francis was talking about the good ol' USA
last week when he said (basically) that in the Old Testament, the false idol being worshipped was a golden calf. Today, it's wealth.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
Just brutal.
That Bernie isn't getting 80% of the vote just shows how good of a job the PTB have done in pulling the wool over America's eyes.
Thanks, jamess. Hope you're doing well.
thanks geebeebee
I'm doing as well as can be expected.
It's been a rough few months,
and I've been sick a lot this last winter as well.
I'm glad spring is finally getting here.
PS. The PTB should be fired.
Not good at all
Hope the spring brings you better health!