Speaking of taxpayer-paid vacations
Thursday, 17. July 2008, 20:38:04
Speaking of Congress' perk of taxpayer-paid junkets masquerading as 'official business,' I can't help but wonder whether the Congressional Democrats' persistent refusal to increase domestic oil production is somehow related to the fact that our political class is fairly well insulated from the economic travails of the rest of us.
Think about it: Congressfolk get a very nice salary (over $160,000 if I recall correctly), with automatic annual cost-of-living increases... plus a housing expense... plus a travel expense... and free airline travel (often on a military aircraft) -- and other perks few of us could attain to.
Speaking of that travel expense, very few of them t drive their own cars, particularly when they're on 'official business.' Rather, they travel in SUV style -- and when their 8-cylinder Ford Behemoth or Chevy Megasaur runs low, the driver just flips out a credit card -- and the bill is paid by... well, you know.
The Democrats insist that it'll take five (or seven, or ten) years to bring any new oil production on line. The problem is that they've been telling us that for 13 years now. Congress didn't learn anything from the aftermath of 9/11, but they sure as heck should have got a clue from the problems caused by Hurricane Katrina. Instead of taking steps to ensure a steady supply of gas and oil, they've dithered. And why not? They aren't suffering.
It's obvious that the Congressional Democrats won't act until and unless a Democrat is elected president -- but their "Let them eat cake!" attitude could push America into a full-blown recession.
Think about it: Congressfolk get a very nice salary (over $160,000 if I recall correctly), with automatic annual cost-of-living increases... plus a housing expense... plus a travel expense... and free airline travel (often on a military aircraft) -- and other perks few of us could attain to.
Speaking of that travel expense, very few of them t drive their own cars, particularly when they're on 'official business.' Rather, they travel in SUV style -- and when their 8-cylinder Ford Behemoth or Chevy Megasaur runs low, the driver just flips out a credit card -- and the bill is paid by... well, you know.
The Democrats insist that it'll take five (or seven, or ten) years to bring any new oil production on line. The problem is that they've been telling us that for 13 years now. Congress didn't learn anything from the aftermath of 9/11, but they sure as heck should have got a clue from the problems caused by Hurricane Katrina. Instead of taking steps to ensure a steady supply of gas and oil, they've dithered. And why not? They aren't suffering.
It's obvious that the Congressional Democrats won't act until and unless a Democrat is elected president -- but their "Let them eat cake!" attitude could push America into a full-blown recession.
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