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Thoreau once said, “There are thousands hacking at the branches to the one striking at the ROOT.”
im2moro is planning to launch a national grassroots campaign to “strike at the root of a big problem.” The branches of the problem include a bloated government, a $14 trillion dollar national debt, an unbalanced budget, high unemployment and a long list of other economic problems. The root of the problem is an ineffective congress that seems out of touch with the American people, disconnected from the gravity of the situation we’re in, and more concerned with politics than solving problems.
So we are going to begin striking at this root through a call for congressional reform – a challenge to congress to “Live like us!”
Today, our representatives in congress receive special privileges, perks and pensions that the rest of us they represent do not. This isn’t right! The people who should be passing legislation to help fix our country’s problems aren’t even feeling the full effect of these problems. Here are just a few of these out of step privileges, perks and pensions according to a recent Fox News article:
Members of the House of Representatives are entitled to:
- $1.1 million for office expenses
- Full pension after only five years of service (at 62)
- 3-day work weeks
- Several unnecessary “breaks” throughout the year
Members of the Senate are entitled to:
- 3.3 million for office expenses (just for Capitol Hill alone)
- PLUS an unrestricted number of offices in home states; up to 8,200 square feet, with $40,000 on office furniture.
- Full pension after only five years of service (at 62)
- 3-day work weeks
- Several unnecessary “breaks” throughout the year
Other privileges, perks and pensions:
- Congress has voted themselves a total of 19% pay increases since 2000. (www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/payandperqs.htm)
- Congress is exempt from insider trading laws that would send the rest of us to prison for violating.
- Congress’ pay and benefits are exempt from government shutdown. They continue collecting their $174,000 salary and perks package even if the government shuts down due to lack of funding, held up by them.
Congress is exempt from whatever impact the stock market has on 401k/retirement/savings accounts because they gave themselves the choice to “opt in”