"There is the problem, and the evidence is there; You have to be rich to run for congress. There are many who understand what the nation needs; those who can relate with the people and "truly" be their voice, but these people will never have a chance because they cannot afford to run for congress... The rich are this way because many of them have always looked out for themselves first and foremost, with full focus on their personal success. To be a politician to them is just another notch on their belt to raise their reputation and their status. They don't put the people first; their nation first, because if they did then they would be able to actually do something for the people. In recent years it has been proven again and again that they don't have our best interest in mind. I repeat need new leaders who truly represent the people and can relate with them... There are some who would serve with only the bare minimum (if need be) to support their families, while focusing the rest of their acquired wealth on fixing the nation."
Consul Nicholas Moore
"The average successful House race costs $1.4 million to stage (the
average Senate campaign is almost $10 million), and candidates are
allowed - and often need - to donate as much as they want to their own
effort. The costs of advertising and travel make it increasingly
difficult for anyone who doesn't already have money to get their name
out there. There have also been concerns raised recently about the
ability of politicians to profit from their position, both through
contacts made and the ability to trade stock based on privileged
information."
Related: The Net Worth of Congress Rose 23.6% Since 2008
(http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/11/net-worth-congress-rose
-236-2008/44418/)
"Even putting aside the questions of influence and corruption, the
biggest concern is that those who elected to Congress are more out of
touch with the world of their constituents than ever before. How can
they be expected to look out for the interest of citizens when the
biggest issues facing them - unemployment, health care, wages - are
unknown to most of those who are supposed to be looking out for them? Or
worse when addressing those issues directly contradicts their own
interest, as when millionaires are asked to vote on a "millionaire's
tax"? The biggest political movement of the last year, Occupy Wall
Street, has been devoted almost exclusively to addressing the gap
between rich and poor, but it's hard to see how any change becomes
possible when that gap is greatest among those in a position to do
something about it..."
By Dashiell Bennett | The Atlantic Wire
The Wealth Gap Between Congress and Voters Is Growing
http://news.yahoo.com/wealth-gap-between-congress-voters-growing-1202571
97.html
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