According to both the New York Times and Washington Post, the wealth gap between members in Congress and Americans continues to go up in comparison to last year. The New York Times states that Congress member's median wealth has grown to "$913,000, compared to $100,000 for the rest of America households." While, according to the Washington Post , "that number drops to $725,000 when excluding home equity (and adjusting for inflation), but the same median figure for American families is just $20,500."
Obviously, it makes sense that people in Congress would on average make more than the average American. How else would they plan on getting money to run for election and campaign? But, do you think that this big financial gap still allows Congress to stay in touch with the "average Joe?" Or, do you think that the wealth gap can never allow Congress to accurately represent American citizens?
War for Ukraine Day 804: Slow News Day, Huh?
1 hour ago
6 comments:
I definitely think that this huge difference in wealth is keeping Congress from relating to the average American citizen and passing laws to help them. With salaries that are so high, Congress doesn't have to worry about what the financial consequences of their legislation may be. It gives them more power and as we have seen, Congress has been taking full advantage of that power. With so much money, Congress can pay off almost anyone in order to any law they want. Yes, Congress does need a higher pay check as they have more power, but it needs to be more balanced so that the people and Congress can still stay connected and Congress does not gain too much power.
I don't think comparing salaries can measure how representative Congress is. For one thing, the members of Congress have a higher degree, and more educated, which simply factors into how much they are being paid. And, though members of Congress could decide how much they get paid, they're not just going to raise their salary by 200%, because they have the power.
I don't think it is a very big deal if there is a wealth gap between members of Congress and the average American. That is the way it has always been since the Constitution was written. Our government has functioned with this wealth gap for over 200 years; it is not going to suddenly become a problem. Our government is an elitist one that has always been run by wealthy people and always will be.
I definitely agree with Raquel that this colossal difference of cash between Congress and an average American Citizen really does effect how they relate. Money does make a difference with people and does divide them keeping upper class citizens with other upper class, middle class with other middle class and so on. Since Congress receives such a high income, it really is hard to relate to the average joe who is not making a much because they hae no experience of making that same low amount. I feel that of Congress really wanted to relate to the average joe, they should take a walk in their shoes. You can't really get a feel for someone unless you truly know where they are coming from.
I agree with Colin that this wealth gap really isn't anything new and not that big a deal. Even if Congress did have less money, they would still continue to make policies that primarily benefit the rich in order to gain support from people with enough money to fund thier next campaigns. I also don't agree that representatives are unable to relate to the general population. Just because they're wealthy now doesn't mean that they grew up wealthy/ have always been wealthy.
Causation and correlation are two different things and I don't think that members of Congress are being elected because they make considerable sums of money. Money is usually a representation of power and a candidates lack of funding usually gives voters the message that they are not prime leaders.
On the matter of congress being able to represent the "average Joe," there will always be a division of agendas. This may be due to their wealth, particularly their usual middle to upper class upbringing, but it may also be the fact that they have power. Once elected, it becomes difficult to accommodate every person's interest. Moreover, since wealthy individuals tend to have a larger influence in politics, their interests get served first. This is a fundamentally unfair premise, but it is a reality unless enough people pressure congress to make changes.
Post a Comment