Speaking of John Conyers and the perpetual life of privilege, he has more unhappy neighbors in the city and state he’s supposed to represent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_t6x3h8vLI
Personally I’d give Charlie Leduff a national show.
I’m proud that my congressman was among those who took heat for sleeping in his office because he doesn’t intend to live in Washington.
If those 80 yr olds have been in place since before Ronald Reagan, they need to find a new day "job."
Besides the great age gap, they have lived waaaay too long in DC to have a clue how life is at home for their constituencies.
80 is way to old for congress critters.
They really have no idea how the modern world operates or an understanding of current public policy issues.
AND at 80, even if smart, they know ALL THE WROMG THINGS.
The FDR contagion needs to be cleansed, along with the LBJ virus.
At a maximum, 65 and out for public service, at ANY level.
Public service should not be a CAREER, it should be an honor and duty to serve, then move on.
If the government is so complex that it takes 20 years of criminality to work the levers of power, then it is too big and needs to be down-sized.
One of the biggest problems with out government is that our politicians go to Washington and lose touch with where they are from.
This is the 21st century. There is no need for politicians to live in Washington. Most of Washington should be closed and turned into one big Museum of how governments were run in ancient times.
Not that it will ever happen, but Congresscritters in both houses should have to retire at the retirement age that they set for Social Security. That would have at least two benefits - 1) they would actually raise the retirement age for SS which would slow death spiral for that program and 2) it would prevent people like Robert Byrd from showing up for work when they are way past the point of coherence.
as for 80 being too old for Congress or even the White House, yes...I believe enough brain cells are diminished that they do not make good decisions plus your energy level is slowed down tremendously...I worked with the aged and ill for many years, and the closer 70 approaches me the more I realize that my ship has also sailed and am just happy living my retired quiet life with the same man for 53 years!!!!
I do not want OLD Farts making world changing decisions...so I hope they all get voted OUT.
If you cant beat Harry Reid in an arm wrestling contest you have to retire.