Politicians have no clue to what real life is like!
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
June 26, 2007 11:47am CST
I watched First Daughter with Michael Keaton in it. It is just one of those cute, family movies about the daughter of a president. Here are a couple of things that caught my attention. They have secret service as body guards all of the time. They are driven or flown everywhere they go. They wear designer clothes, have hair dressers, and lots of staff/servants at their beck and call at all times. Someone cooks for them, does their laundry, etc. Okay...I'm a working wife, I make $9.60 and hour and I've never even had someone come in and clean my house, though I think that would be great! So! my point is...politicians and those running for the presidency are so far removed from us little people and how we live...how in the world are they supposed to relate to us? What makes us think that they can even understand anything about what it means to be a middle-class or lower middle-class worker in this country? Hillary makes $197,000 a year as a newer senator. I don't even know anyone who makes that kind of money! No wonder they can relate to and associate with the hollywood crowd...lots in common. But who's going to look out for people like me?
12 people like this
21 responses
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
27 Jun 07
I think when our government was setup there were a lot of mistakes made. I think that the politicians should have to have their pay based on what the American people say it is. When does an employee ever get to set the wage that they will earn from their job? A politician is suppose to be the peoples employees going to capitol hill to fight for what the people want to make this a better country. You won't see politicians willing to fix the mistake that was made because then they couldn't give themselves as many benefits as what they have. A politician doesn't pay for his travels back and forth to Washington DC. He doesn't pay for his medical care. He doesn't pay for his own security. So why does he need such a high rate of pay?
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
27 Jun 07
A very good question and I honestly dont have have an answer. I guess we just vote for the best of the bunch and hope for the best.
2 people like this
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
27 Jun 07
Yes, we do the best we can by voting. That's why I feel I can complain about those in office. I always vote!
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
26 Jun 07
"They" absolutely can't (and probably don't care to) relate to us working middle-class folks. They are in government service ONLY to get the benefits (great pensions and secret service protection). They are not there to look out for "we, the people". I really wish it were possible to vote everyone in office out, and vote in some middle-class working people who would look out for us and not just line their pockets. I, too, am disillusioned with politicians.
2 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Jun 07
I have always thought they should have to live on one of our budgets for a months. They would probably be out of money by the second day. NOT A CLUE. But they so generously spend our money. The Kennedy's as well.....always wondered if they even had an inkling as to what it's like to be on a limited budget.
@KatieS (503)
• United States
26 Jun 07
I don't think they were always rich and dishonest. They had to start somewhere, grow up somewhere. They might have struggled at some point in their lives, just didn't make the same choices we did to be middle-class. I'm sure with all the reading you do on politicians you could probably find some biographies on these people. Everyone has choices to make in life, they chose to be rich and political. We chose not to. Thank you God for my blessings!
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
26 Jun 07
People like you should be looked out for by people like you! You are completely correct about our politicians, so, there is no other way.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
26 Jun 07
I'm happy to explain. I could just as well said people like us, instead of people like you. The meaning is that all of us must rely on ourselves first before anyone else. Especially, rely on yourself before anyone in government, particularily a politician.
Rely on yourself, your spouse, your family, your friends, and then if there is absolutely no other choice, rely on government.
2 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Jun 07
Thanks...I knew exactly what you meant. It just seems like sometimes we have no say in things.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
27 Jun 07
I do agree with you. I guess all these policitians and policy makers live in a different world altogether and they have forgotten what real life is. It is we who need to make our presence and make life known to these people. If only one of the policy makers can live the life of a "commoner" for a month. A month will do, I think to appreciate what the people are going through.
1 person likes this
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
27 Jun 07
I personally don't think that our politicians care about what the average American wants or needs. They have their own agendas to make their own lives better. At some point in history our country as become a "me" kind of society. This is where the majority of the people only seem to care about themselves and their own needs. There needs to be an overhaul done of our government so that the power is given back to the LEGAL American citizen.
1 person likes this
@devilsangel (1817)
• United States
27 Jun 07
Well I would say don't believe everything you see on tv, it was just a movie. They didn't start off as rich a lot of them came from working families that worked their way up the political ladder and made it happen. Not every politician is out of touch from the people they represent. They deal with crap just like the rest of us do. They have fights with their families, they have trouble at work, not everything is like it is in the movies.
1 person likes this
@MisterSteve (30)
• United States
27 Jun 07
Generally, by the time a politician becomes successful, he has already compromised himself beyond any chance of actually doing any service to the public. Votes and candidates are bought and paid for, elections are a charade to keep our attention while the real power brokers operate in the shadows, manipulating the international economy to accumulate massive profit for The Money Masters, a secret cabal of international bankers who control the world's banks, including the Federal Reserve, America's privately owned central banking system, and the Bank of England. Spread across the globe The Money Masters conduct global financial domination in utter secrecy. Shhh, what was that?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157463)
• United States
26 Jun 07
It may be time for another grass roots movement, but how can the average joe win against all of the money that is available for politicians. It is does leave us feeling like we are out in the cold. We are people alike, we make enough, maybe, to get by, but not much hope if we look at our leadership.
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
26 Jun 07
I kind of agree with your point. But to be fair, all politicians did not start out wealthy. Many started making much less and worked their way up to bigger things. Some never got elected for any office and have gone on to other things. But, many of them I think are far removed from the electorate. If you have been waiting for the government or a politician to improve things for you, you will have a long wait. The only person you need to count on making a better life for yourself is you.
1 person likes this
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
26 Jun 07
While I do agree with you that some politicians are clueless about "real life" and have fallen out of touch with the people they represent, I also think you shouldn't believe everything about thier lifestyle that is portrayed in movies. After all, not all politicians grew up rich, most got into politics wanting to make a difference. Sure, they get paid well in the senate (for which you usually have to have a house in DC, as well as your home state; so I suppose they have to pay you enough to afford that), but you don't start out there; you start out much lower and making a lot less money.
1 person likes this
@sreeraj_9 (67)
• India
27 Jun 07
hi
without they know how thy become politician.. if they say they dont know they are notfools we are the fools...
