The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
Do you think politicians are really working for the people, or just the paycheck and benefits?
Talk about it….
58 comments
Politicians are working for themselves and their ego. They’re narcissists. Anyone who thinks any differently is being played.
Agree.
Agreed
Agreed
100% correct statement
For politicians beyond the local level, the politicians work for their own self-gratification, paycheck, and benefits.
Just look at Kamala Harris. Our CA Senator has only been in DC once to vote since the August recess. Once. She is getting paid plus cadillac benefits, yet not doing the job she was elected to do.
If an elected official is running for a higher office, he/she should be forced to take an unpaid leave of absence from the elected position, including zero benefits during that time. A person could then be appointed to the elected position for the time of the leave of absence.
She has never done anything for those who elected her in any office. A disgusting person. And your right they should go off payroll if they want to speak higher office Why are we paying for there game when they don’t do anything for us
So Mary, I guess you’re also talking about tRump, he spends a large majority of his time at rallies or tweeting. So I guess if someone is running for office, they get to run, democrat or republican.
Harris worked Willie Brown to get her career going. Never about the people. She slept with him to get ahead. Wasn’t for that opportunity and Da Mayor, she wouldn’t be where she is now. This isn’t a party issue. Dem or Rep they both do it. Also why to prevent making a career of it, term limits should be mandatory of any elected position at any level.
I do like Mary’s idea if running for a higher office, take an unpaid leave because you would be serving self and incapable of focusing on job you were elected to do. Just my thoughts nothing more.
@grandmato3 – I am speaking to politicians in general. Party makes no difference in this matter. The issue is a culture of narcissism, as Kentucky Derby states. And that culture is present in all political parties.
And if you think I am a Trump fan, you don’t know me too well. I didn’t support any of the candidates in the last presidential election, and my pickings are slim now. Might be another Mickey Mouse write in on my mail in ballot for prez in 2020.
No brainer paychecks.The only cure is one term only,they get to comfortable with the extra income if you know what I mean.
For the money and power
The free health care and other benefits are probably the main reason. Cancel their benefits including speaking fees and Trustee Board positions they receive after office and see how many drop out or don’t run for re-election.
Benefits and re-election – only.
Look at the net worth of every politician in office. Net worth has increased (I believe) for ALL of them.
I’m sure there are some politicians who actually work for the people, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
All go into politics to fulfill a personal agenda…working “for the people” is usually a belief they have…the reality is, most spend the majority of their time pandering for votes and exempting themselves from many of the laws and rules they impose on regular citizens.
Don’t know the statistics but they probably get richer in politics than in other endeavors. Take the Johnson’s,Nixon’s,Clinton’s.and Obama’s all now multi millionaires except Johnson and Nixon who are dead. Not to leave out Biden’s son.
What gets me about them, especially democrats, now they are so partisan wacky you can’t believe a thing they say. It is actually like they have a screw loose.
Turn off faux noise Ricardoh, evident you’ll been drinking too much of their koolaide. I find it remarkable that you think dems are partisan? You’re are joking right? Look up how many lies tRump has told thus far then get back to me about politicians lying will you?
I agree with you except the Republicans are just as partisan, if not worse. McConnell is proof of that.
What we need to do is to separate money from politics. All campaigns should be limited to how much money can be spent. All PACs should be disbanded and made illegal. All political advertising should be reviewed by an independent board. Corporations are barred from political donations/spending. Politicians should be barred from joining any major corporation as an advisor, trustee, etc for at least 5 years, perhaps 10. No paid public speaking gigs for the same amount of time. All financial records for the politician should be made public.
You must be one of those democrats with a screw loose. Tell me a couple of those lies Trump has told.
PAYCHECKS.
Also, they should be forbidden from going to be on a board of directors, CEO or any other type of a position at a Corporation where they used their Position in Politics or a Government position to benefit said Corporation.
Such a shame that this cr*p happens all of the time.
Head of CDC becomes President of Merck??? Give me a break.
I think most enter politics to give back….none of them get paid a ton….then it turns into getting elected to higher office and they get used to the power and influence and don’t know when to move on….polls show we don’t like Congress…except OUR representative…uh huh.
Rest assured many of us don’t care for our reps.
wont fall for the bait
but will say ….democrats have had total control of this state for 50 years
what do they have to show for it …..hatred for a potus
bad roads and bridges
illegals taking up all the affordable housing leaving citizens in the rain
bums flooding every city and ravaging complaisant ones
highest taxes ever …..
board members being paid what a federal judge makes …
reduced police forces and higher crime
legalized theft of citizens
governors taking from school funding to directly fund illegals
using obvious favorable decisions to use a sketchy contractor to build on newly acquired land
holding board meetings where over half the people are opposed yet move forward anyways
again over taxing everything
the DA saying that no illegal will be prosecuted but pleaded out
as the DA frees a 7 time deported illegal for KILLING A CITIZEN TRYING TO ENJOY LIFE HERE ….read between those lines right ..ooh sorry left
put millions of whose money most likely tax money to push a highspeed rail scam that never got off the ground
they sighted it to costly due to union costs
yet the bond and tax press on …where is that money going ….
no media of course since they are now allowed to attack democrat scams
so yes over all a very good question ….in any other state …
you see we all know they are shady yet vote to keep them in since they tell us they are the only choice or savior or what ever the flavor is of the week they spend millions to spin it the way they need to and it worked and still is
handcuffing the media and colleges to promote democrat saviorhood
and being motivated to look the other way as democrat politicians push their agenda has a proven outcome ….communists do it daily ….
You claim that “democrats have had total control of this state for 50 years” Since 1969 we have had four Republican Governors and four Democrats. Your opening statement puts doubt on all that follows.
The Dems have ruined this state. More and more keep getting elected. Yet we have the highest per capita poverty in the nation, homeless problems are multiplying, costs keep going up, we pay for illegal aliens and then people wonder why everything is SO expensive. Wake up people. I never thought I’d leave the state, but I’ve had enough. When I retire, we’re moving away to a state that is balanced and not so left leaning.
IN 2017 California was 29th ranked in percentage of people in poverty at 13.3% Twenty one states have higher rates including Texas 14.7 and Mississippi at 19.8% California rate dropped since 2014. (2017 American Community Survey 1-year estimates) Interesting facts?
What is amazing is we allow persons generally held in such low regard the ability to control disbursement of our tax dollars.
Mar Twain said,
“Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”
“There is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”
“Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can.”
“All Congresses and Parliaments have a kindly feeling for idiots, and a compassion for them, on account of personal experience and heredity.”
President Reagan summed it up well,
“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession.
I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.”
Some, a minute few, might actually care about the people they represent, but I think most of them are not in politics for the people or the money as much as they are in it for the status and power.
From what I’ve been seeing with currant lineup of presidential candidates is arrogance with a sense of self importance and entitlement. They see themselves as special and require excessive admiration, (Beto O’Rourke is an excellent example.)
Their narcissistic attitude causes them to believe that they are right and even if they are not, they believe they’re too smart to get caught. They know their followers don’t want to hear the truth and will believe them even when there’s irrefutable evidence to the contrary. When a lie is told enough times, people will assume it to be true and it seems to me that most of them with the exception of maybe, Tulsi Gabbard are liars and exploitative.
Yeah, California is such a disaster. Consider these companies that call it home.
Chevron
HP
McKesson
Wells Fargo
Safeway
Apple
Walt Disney
Cisco
Northrup Grumman
Intel
Ingram Micro
Google
oh, never mind, I’m tired. All these name from the Fortune 500. What a disaster!
Take a ride through Oakland around West Grand or just about anywhere in downtown SF and then tell me how great California is. I cannot wait to get the hell out of this cesspool created by the idiots of the Democratic Party.
Why is it ya think so many of companies listed while keeping a presence in CA have expanded or move operations out of CA ? ? ?
So Mr. G tell me about these companies any why they have moved some operations out. I’ll go first. Chevron moved their exploration staff to Houston because that’s the world center for exploration and the associated contractors. You’re next.
My apologies to those who have been here awhile, here we go again. Moved or didn’t build in CA.
So far 130 entries under Leave CA bookmark header,
This first article was made to disappear, but was archived. 427 pages.
“California Business Departures: An Eight-Year Review 2008-2015”
https://web.archive.org/web/20160114201513/http://spectrumlocationsolutions.com/pdf/Businesses-Leave-California-.pdf
2014
“The move will eliminate 360 jobs at the Chatsworth plant, which has been making the frozen sandwiches since 1988.”
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-nestle-business-moving-20140807-story.html
2017
‘ Nestle Joins Thousands Of Companies Leaving California Over Anti-Capitalist Lawmakers and Activists ‘
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/02/nestle-joins-thousands-companies-leaving-california-anti-capitalist-lawmakers-activists/
2019
” Apple will invest $2 billion to build up a data center in Mesa, Arizona, the company announced Monday.
The new facility—which will serve as a command center for the company’s global networks—is expected to employ 150 full-time ”
https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/02/apple-announces-2b-global-command-center-in-arizona.html
2014
‘ Tesla picks Nevada for battery ‘Gigafactory’ ‘
“The announcement comes after a weekend in which California’s legislature adjourned without acting on a bill that could have delivered economic incentives to try to lure Tesla into building the battery plant in the Golden State.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/09/03/tesla-gigafactory-nevada-carson/15029233/
2017
‘ Intel to invest $7 billion in factory in Arizona, employ 3,000 ‘
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/08/trump-meets-intel-ceo-brian-krzanich.html
2013
‘ Honda moves U.S. head from California to Ohio ‘
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/23/california-honda-ohio/1941229/
2012
‘ Comcast retracts criticism of state ‘
READ their original statement about 5 paragraphs down.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/09/25/comcast-retracts-criticism-of-state.html
OKFine, enough for this time.
Of you forgot International Harvester snd Dodge.
Oh, they’re working for a paycheck all right, but not that one on the books. Too many of those picked to represent the people care only about padding their income with speaking fees, book deals, kickbacks, and a few take outright bribes.
I don’t know what politicians are. Last time I checked they were people.
Trump gives away his Presidential pay.
I’d like to see his tax returns for all his enterprises after his 4 years in the WH. I’d be interested in seeing if any of his hotels suddenly starting making big money after years of losing. Oh wait, we already know that happened! I’d also be interested in seeing how much money he and his friends made during the stock market yo-yoing following some of his more inflammatory statements. Sell high; say something stupid to panic investors and then buy again after a 200 or 300 point fall. Game the system much?
I’ve met all kinds. Just like any other group of individuals they can’t all be painted with one brush.
Agreed.
I have met some, and what you say is true.
I really liked Pete McCloskey – he seemed like a decent guy.
If you look him up, he’s one of the good ones.
We joked about our Irish heritage, so how bad could he be!
Just paycheck not working for us only working for themselves
Trump for the people
Grandmato3 – shut off the TV – (and start doing your own research). The bought and paid for (cult) media is brainwashing you. TDS is not healthy, helpful, or necessary. WAKE UP NOW. The whole world is watching – (and all US must get over it) – and UNITE NOW. Your children (and grandchildren are counting on this)
The paycheck is secondary to the money that can be made through legal insider trading from the information they get and the lobbying jobs received in industries they regulate after they leave office. Ego & power are the other gratifications.
I remember the first time Diaane Feinstein ran for the senate. My Huffington put up $28 million of his own money to run against her for a job that paid a little over $200k at the time. He lost. 6 months later his wife divorced him. They said it was because he was gay but I believe the real reason was the money he wasted.
Trump isn’t doing it for the money. He doesn’t need it. He donates what would be his “paycheck” to a worthy cause each month. A certain amount of pride in civic engagement accrues to one’s cachet while serving, if one does not do something to disgrace oneself, like Kamala Harris, for example. I do believe that much like actors and actresses, tv stars, news anchors and reporters — really anyone seeking some degree of celebrity or prominence — politicians have a greater need for ego reinforcement than the average person and seek out the careers for the adulation. They are all professions that are, to some extent, a popularity contest.
Even at much lower levels on the political ladder there are people out there who do little or nothing and suck the taxpayers dry. Example: Linda Mayo of the MDUSD board has been on the board for over 20 years, contributed nothing, yet gets fully paid health benefits for her and her husband as well as a stipend worth about $8000 a year.
Paychecks-by-taxpayer is always an issue. Unions are the problem.
Then vote her out. It’s your fault she is still on the board if you hate her so much. Complaining on this board is not how our system works.
For paychecks and perks.
They work for whoever pays them the most. Government paycheck and various perks are extra gravy for them. Never vote for the same politician twice, it only takes one time in office to be corrupted by the position regardless of how high or low that elected position happens to be.
Oh please – after watching Trump – they all just rank amateurs at grifting.
Neither paycheck or the people but power.
Someone with a power drive will start off in local politics like a city council seat, then run for mayor or a county district seat, then state assembly, then hit the national stage in congress.
Once in Washington, its just a matter of being re-elected year after year until retirement or if the power drive is not satisfied with congress; a possible run for senate, or a desire to be in a cabinet position, or the presidency itself.
No politician is working for me. I’m a taxpayer and middle class.
I believe in the old saying ‘The proof is in the pudding’. Look at the condition of the roads and infrastructure, schools, small businesses, crime and criminals allowed to run rampant in our communities… The list goes on and on. Also, things are only getting worse and worse. The politicians don’t care in the least about the working middle class and their communities.
wow yes of course when a repub is at a high seat they do as they please and are not bullied and pandered and accosted and beheaded effigies
so the fact that 12 million illegals are being housed in any and all affordable housing that the state can put them in
as citizens are crying for affordable housing
and what are the politicians doing ….stifling the media not to report such facts
now they are going to build wait for it ….projects type affordable housing yay
yes that’s right people the politicians after flooding the state with illegals and housing them in every low rent place they could find or garner ….have created a problem with citizens being left in the cold …..
so no they can come in with their construction backed cronies and build high rise projects to house citizens in …..woohoo right I am sure those citizens will be living the American dream in those 1-2 bedroom pack and stacks ….while illegals reap their skimming of political gains
you do know they were brought in to boost the population numbers so the politicians can get more fed money and congress seats ….
and you are obviously for the dems illegals first and citizens children some 8th or 9th as their budget gets hacked in favor or illegals and bums …yes bums not homeless ….those homeless are a direct result of no housing because 12 million illegals are using that up ….
yet still no media coverage accept for deplorable photos now and again or a hep a story …..
yet no politician says anything about where those illegals are housed nor does the democrat bought media
they show homeless and say yes trumps fault ….or ooohhh the high priced housing uuumm gavins SF is the highest by the way ….
they say the evil landlords and now state wide rent control …lol so they can house illegals where ever they want for less and tack on more property tax to boot ….
yet of course you blame trump for all of that as well …..and the 4 republican governors who I am sure had their terms not biased at all by the democrat flooded political fog
please …..this is the democrats mess and pointing at trump will get you no where accept into one of those projects high rise pack and stacks
the flaw is in your voting obviously as you prefer criminals and illegals over actual citizens rights and freedoms …oh wait they have been taken away already as they are on the streets and illegals are living comfortable with tax money
I think they are working for the money, but also the power. I can’t imagine for me why some of these 70 something year old people would run for a job like president unless they are addicted to power.
Maybe, it starts at a good place, but eventually, Politicians go to the dark-side.
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