The problem with Congress

 Fuck Donald Trump

Peace,

emaycee

Why aren't you a millionaire?

 

Too bad you have a soul or you'd be rich, too

Throughout the course of my retail career, I came to believe that people who moved up the corporate ladder (in fairness to myself this is not sour grapes--I never had any desire nor did I make any effort to move up said ladder) had one of two strengths--they were either really good at bullshitting or they were a thorough asshole.  Turns out I pretty much nailed it.

A recent study shows that it's not intelligence (if the Enron debacle at the beginning of this century didn't convince you that intelligence has nothing to do with getting wealthy then The Great Recession certainly sealed that deal) nor for all their claims is it hard work that leads to being wealthy.  Nope, it's the ability to be exploitative--either in bending (or outright breaking) the rules to suit your purpose (see also, Donald Trump) or in using people through cheap labor and lobbying for lesser work protections (see also, Jeff Bezos and the Walton clan) through our government.

So the next time you're lionizing billionaires for what they bring to the table, just stop.  Truth is, when measuring the esteem of their standing in society they stand just below loan sharks.

At least loan sharks don't try to pretend they're more than just greedy assholes.

220,000+ Dead Americans

Fuck Donald Trump,

emaycee

Walking a ways in another's shoes

Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California spent last Friday night at a homeless shelter in the Bay Area to get an idea of what it's like to be homeless in America.  Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut did something similar late last year when he spent a day shadowing a homeless man.

On any given night, a little over 600,000 Americans will find themselves homeless, most of them for the simplest of reasons:  they can't afford housing. Rep. Speier suggested that perhaps all members of Congress should do as she did (anyone see Ted Cruz or Rand Paul spending a night in a homeless shelter?) to learn more about what the homeless face each day.

You know, we constantly convene the best and the brightest of the business world to fix what ails the American economy without any tangible results.  Perhaps Rep. Speier and Sen. Murphy are on to something--facing the problem where it actually is rather than in some hallowed hall full of bullshit artists.

With half of Congress being millionaires, though, it's kind of hard to imagine many of them spending a night slumming to better the lives of their constituents.

Probably a lot easier to stay home and count their money.

Peace,
emaycee