Greed and the Presidency. Can any of the presidential aspirants claim to represent the common man?

2015-05-23T07:35:54-04:00

As 2016’s diverse cast of aspirants comes into sharper focus, so does a shared story, a common theme. It’s one of avarice, acquisitiveness and a resistance to living within the financial bounds of elected office.

It’s not new to this year’s players, but it’s especially vivid, not least because Hillary Clinton stars in the show. “Dead broke” upon leaving the White House, she and Bill chased not only fat book advances but also morbidly obese speaking fees, under the guise of needing to “pay our bills.”

And so she orated for dollars as long as she could, announcing her candidacy only after she’d collected a final fee estimated at $200,000 from the American Camp Association.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-greed-and-the-presidency.html?hpw&rref=opinion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

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Response by PO1 John Miller made May 23 at 2015 8:34 AM

2015-05-23T08:34:13-04:00

When was the last time any serious Presidential candidate was not a millionaire?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 23 at 2015 9:03 AM

2015-05-23T09:03:47-04:00

Yeah, people are lining up to buy a book authored by me, Bob Nobody, about not only how it takes a village but how to be the village idiot. Then I'll go out and earn $200K a pop on the lecture circuit talking about my glorious days of building camp fires and blogging on the internet. After all, that's what all us common folk do.

Response by MSgt Carl Christner made May 23 at 2015 11:41 AM

2015-05-23T11:41:08-04:00

I do not believe that a average man can become the President of the United States any longer. it all comes down to money and how much it cost to campaign to become president. I would just hope that there still a good man out there with integrity, honor, courage to do what is right for a country for a change.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 12:09 PM

2015-05-23T12:09:57-04:00

http://americannews.com/muslim-throws-a-brick-at-a-dog-receives-instant-karma-video/

I don't know but this is funny as hell. lol

Muslim Throws A Brick At A Dog, Receives Instant Karma [VIDEO]

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Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-05-23T12:26:37-04:00

IMHO, all human beings act in their own self-interest. This is not to conflate self-interest with blind selfishness, or to say to act in a self-interested manner is inherently wrong (as I take the opposite stance). It is natural and inevitable, which is why I don't take too much issue with the fact that these people are trying to get as much as they can out of their position, but I DO take issue with how much power and leeway they are given. Rather than fight or abhor human nature, I'd recommend directing that frustration towards the system instead, and advocate limited gov't.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made May 23 at 2015 1:33 PM

2015-05-23T13:33:58-04:00

Respectfully, we don't need them to represent the common man. In doing so they would be neglecting the "uncommon". We need a candidate that will represent the United States faithfully, through the lens of our Constitution. Taking no more power than is granted, acting generally as the constitution demands and not for the benefit of any group... Yes even that majority known as " the common man ".

Response by SSG John Jensen made May 23 at 2015 1:36 PM

2015-05-23T13:36:15-04:00

part of my switch to the green party back in '92

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made May 23 at 2015 2:11 PM

2015-05-23T14:11:27-04:00

there's a couple conservatives that I like... I just wish Allen West would run he represents all of us veteran, soldier, common man, common lady

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made May 23 at 2015 2:14 PM

2015-05-23T14:14:19-04:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/celebrity-public-appearance-fees-2012-11#

http://fortune.com/2014/05/20/b-school-professors-earn-that-much-in-speaking-fees/

so, it isnt just the politicians...

These Has-Been Celebrities Still Charge Staggering Fees Per Appearance

K-Fed makes what!?

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made May 23 at 2015 2:58 PM

2015-05-23T14:58:20-04:00

Somewhere out there there has to to be those who wish to support and take care of the people........the question is, how do we find them and get their much needed help?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made May 23 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-05-23T15:30:27-04:00

Seriously? Is this an issue? Would we rather have failures running the show? Well, we already do and look where that's gotten us.

Don't you just love the way the Left loves to vilify the rich? Evil. Greedy. Hogwash. When did success become unfashionable? America grew wealthy because its citizens grew wealthy. The middle class grew because they worked to emulate the wealthy but lacked the talent/luck/endurance to succeed as well. Still they succeeded.

My father was born to an immigrant family who had so little they lived in a company owned shack. They had no closets or cupboards. It mattered not. They had nothing to put in them. He fought his way out of the coal mines (literally fought as a prize fighter) then got an education and joined the middle class. That's success. That's America. Should we vilify him?

Personally I want to be represented and led by overachievers. Success breeds success. Sadly, most of the millionaires in Congress didn't become millionaires until they reached Congress. They sure didn't accumulate that wealth from their salaries. Where do you suppose they got it?