leaving public service

Jim Rosenthal

Supporter
I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing about politicians who leave public life "to spend more time with their family" etc.

If I ever read about someone who is running for office on the platform that they want to spend less time with their family, I don't care what their party is, I'm voting for them. Someone that honest not only deserves my vote, they need my support. People that honest don't usually do well in public life.
 

Jim Rosenthal

Supporter
And, btw, what about the families they want to spend more time with when they leave public life? Odds are good they would rather not see dear old Mom or Dad come home. Like they say, the odds are good, but the goods are odd.
 
I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing about politicians who leave public life "to spend more time with their family" etc.

Usually when someone says that it means that they're leaving before they get caught up in a scandal.
 

Steve

Supporter
Agree Jim. It's really the response of a pussy and usually an excuse to take a lobbying position for >1million/year. Meanwhile we continue to pay them lavish health and other benefits ('cause they're too good for Obamacare) until the day they drop

Honesty and politician is truly, and unfortunately, an oxyMORON (emphasis intended)
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
Its usually about money. I'm no lover of politicians, but a lot of those guys are making $100 to $150k in the public sector and could make many multiples of that in the private sector.
 

Steve

Supporter
Jeff,

Don't kid yourself. The "salary" is just the tip of the iceberg. The benefits are tremendous and continue long after their "service" is over. Plus, the "service" is what enables these individuals to clean up after they leave the congress. Most go on to very lucrative careers that they may or may not be qualified for but their congressional career set them up for.

The money they make while in the Congress is appalling and blatantly illegal:

Congressional land grabs for fun and profit « Hot Air

They want to nail doctors for taking a pen from a drug company but these jerks are morally and ethically bankrupt. Even Paul Wellstone, one of the most "righteous" of senators died while in the senate with a net worth of 8 million after a previous career as a college professor. That's a little more then the $174,000 senators salary paid for....
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
Steve:

Don't be an idiot. We aren't just talking about elected members of Congress. We are talking about public service. Lawyers, accountants, Department heads, engineers in the Government's employee all generally could make far more in the private sector. Robert MacNamara could have been President of FoMoCo, but went to run the Dept. of Defense at a pittance when JFK/LBJ asked and gave up millions of dollars to do so. Even for Congressfolk, making $175k when you have two residences and are commuting between your state and DC all the time isn't a king's ransom.

Most of them make their money from books and speaking, if they can get it (like Wellstone did). Those that don't, arent' wealthy. Check out Joe Biden's next worth. He's doing fine but he's not wealthy.

Are some of them "jerks" and "morally and ethically" corrupt? Sure. All of them? No. Most of the Congressmen and women I know personally are hard working, dedicated folks, who are certainly upper middle class but also certainly not wealthy. And all could and/or did make far more in the private sector.

It amazes me how little some of you actually know about the world works. Truly amazing.
 
Just think, soul man, how much more you could make if you didn't spend so much time selflessly educating us on how things really are.
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
I think educating folks like yourself is a worthy goal. Gives me great satisfaction the almighty dollar can't.

The soul man stuff is heelarious. Is that the pissed off old white guy code word for "n****r"? You and Paula Deen grow up on the same Plantation?
 

Steve

Supporter
Jeff,

Nice name calling. Very mature and big of you.

The original poster was referring to politicians, not all public servants. Macnamara was from a different age, doesn't apply here. I realize Hank Paulson gave up a lucrative job but when you're worth over $100 million who cares. I doubt you know many congressmen but the facts are that both sides of the aisle do not police this and have an interest in not policing it. Dennis Hastert, who was a teacher prior to entering Congress, left Congress with 11million.

It would be foolish to think corruption isn't pervasive in congress. Certainly not everyone (never said everyone) but pervasive. Even the cases they do investigate, which is a fraction of the offenses, is a disturbingly high number.

BTW, you and the Craikpot are quickly approaching "anti-EF Hutton" status
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
Jeff,

Nice name calling. Very mature and big of you.



BTW, you and the Craikpot are quickly approaching "anti-EF Hutton" status

You win the Clown Prince of Irony award for this Sunday. Nice job.

The thread says public servants.

Do you know any? They are just like anyone else, for the most part. Some are bad. Most aren't. Some leave public service wealthy, others don't and leave public service to make money.

Referring to them all as morally and ethically corrupt jerks exhibits about a 12 year old level of sophistication on how the world works, how things get done, and how to be a productive member of society.
 

Steve

Supporter
No Jeff, the thread says "leaving public service". Then Jim states "I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing about politicians who leave public life "to spend more time with their family" etc." Clearly you can't read. Clearly you can't read that I stated "It would be foolish to think corruption isn't pervasive in congress. Certainly not everyone (never said everyone) but pervasive."

In basketball terms, you just lofted an airball.
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
Actually I just drained a 3 to tie the finals in game six because I got you to think, just for a minute, that your Faux News induced belief that all politicians (expect Michelle Bachmann of course, because she's your whore) are whores MIGHT be a tad extreme and that SOME of them are not.

Game's tied. 5 seconds left. You're at the line.....and CLANG.
 

Steve

Supporter
Wow, Jeff, you've managed to call me an idiot and Bachman a whore in the span of five minutes. All the while ranting off on a tangent unrelated to this thread. Glad you're not one to stir the pot.

Interesting how you're often the first to start calling names and causing a thread to degenerate (post #8) but very quick to blame LonesomeBob
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
Wait a second. I can't call Michelle Bachman a whore, but you can call all politicians jerks who are morally and ethically corrupt? Wow, just wow.

I frankly don't see that much difference between "don't kid yourself" and "don't be an idiot." I'm sure JamminSemanticsPoliceMan will explain it to us.

And if you can find a thread I started like "DemocRats stole the election" or "Liberals advocate for beastility" let me know. Otherwise, Lonesome Nutjob remains in a class by himself.
 

Steve

Supporter
The difference is I would feel comfortable saying "don't kid yourself" to someone's face. I would not say "don't be an idiot" to someone's face

But hey, you keep taking the high road there Jeff...
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
That's one hell of a whole you are digging.

If you said some of the stuff you said in this thread to me, I'd say "don't be an idiot" to your face.

But the cake topper was getting preachy on name calling and calling Jim "Craikpot" IN THE SAME POST just lines apart. That takes a stunning lack of self-awareness to achieve that kind of irony. I'm in awe.
 

Steve

Supporter
hole, not whole.

And yes, Craikpot was a bad shot that I shouldn't have made and if Jim reads this hopefully he'll accept my apology.

And no, you would not say "don't be an idiot" to my face. I'm confident of that.
 

Jeff Young

GT40s Supporter
You'd be wrong.

I love talking with people. About racing, cars, travel, science, sports, relationships, you name it. In the paddock, I enjoy hanging out with folks that I know, and some I don't, almost as much as racing.

What I DON'T like -- if you can believe it - is discussing politics. My dad always used to tell me that politics is personal, and should be kept to yourself, and for many years I adhered to that rule.

What happened? On two car forums I frequent -- this one and one other -- primarily white, conservative males began posting outrageous political crap that I found to range from either mildly to wildly offensive. Had nothing to do with cars. Typically assumed that all other white males agreed with them. Usually made wild claims about folks with a liberal bent while contending that people who were conservative were god's gift to Earth.

I ignored it for a while, but finally got fed up with it. I don't start the shit, but when I see crap like Lonesome Nutjob posts, I'm not going to let him sit there smugly thinking everyone who reads his vomit agrees with him due to silence.

And when folks start the political talk in th paddock, I try to shut it down with a "don't be an idiot" and turn the conversation back to things we can all discuss without going for the throat.

And that is exactly what you'd get from me if we met in person and you started saying the stuff you posted above.
 
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