Regarding Presidential candidates, what income or net worth do YOU believe places them "out of touch" with the "common" man?

2015-06-18T21:20:40-04:00

I've seen many state that Donald Trump is "too" wealthy to be "in touch", or to relate to the "common" man. What is YOUR threshold, and why? Should it matter at all?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 9:21 PM

2015-06-18T21:21:44-04:00

I don't think it's about income. Even I am out of touch with the financial struggles of most Americans, and I'm not rich.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jun 18 at 2015 9:23 PM

2015-06-18T21:23:00-04:00

One can be very wealthy and very down to earth. In fact, being grounded with the "common" man is what helps a lot of people become very successful.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Jun 18 at 2015 9:29 PM

2015-06-18T21:29:37-04:00

Well...I'm like dis brotha....if u want 2b successful..... do what the rich do

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 9:30 PM

2015-06-18T21:30:36-04:00

The "in touch" with the normal life style of the average citizen is easily summed up with Hillary's statement upon leaving the white house. Words to the effect that they were dead broke.

How many citizens would love to be so dead broke.

She is not alone they all are totally disconnected with the average citizen.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 9:39 PM

2015-06-18T21:39:07-04:00

I maybe wrong, but in my opinion the man is too wealthy To relate to the average American, I haven't seeing do nothing so far that change my mind and I do not think that becoming a president would be his turnaround point

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 18 at 2015 9:47 PM

2015-06-18T21:47:13-04:00

Why would anyone take this clown seriously?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 9:48 PM

2015-06-18T21:48:56-04:00

The cost of campaigning these days requires deep pockets and the media outlets get fat from it. I suspect there are wonderful and honest candidates we will never hear from because they couldn't but their way in. Assets in the billions...that's a whole lot of attention, but may not translate to a whole lot of votes.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 18 at 2015 9:55 PM

2015-06-18T21:55:56-04:00

The number is hard to judge but the lifestyle is what IMHO ultimately sets them apart. These folks get driven everywhere and don't drive themselves. They have private security, they do practically nothing for themselves as they have armies of assistants. They don't wait in lines at the grocery store, don't clip coupons and don't worry where their next pay check is coming from. I'd venture to say most of them have nannies and don't have to do homework with their kids after a 10 hour day at work nor cook meals. These folks wouldn't know how to stretch a dollar if it was made out of rubber, but expect us to when they levy more burden on us due to their economic policies.

To me that is what makes these people out of touch with reality and John and Jane Q. Public.

Response by SGT John W Lugo made Jun 18 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-06-18T21:58:41-04:00

Wealth doesn't make you a President, understanding the real issues with the middle class does. I think he's another clown that will promise big but fall short.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 10:08 PM

2015-06-18T22:08:57-04:00

If your house or apartment has enough bedrooms to bed down an entire Battalion, you might be out of touch with the common man. If your watch costs more than my annual salary, you might be out of touch with the common man. If you think vacationing in Switzerland is slumming it, you may be out of touch with the common man. If your entire net worth is more than most countries GNP's, you may be out of touch with the common man.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 10:13 PM

2015-06-18T22:13:21-04:00

I don't think it's a wealth factor. I think it's more an insular effect that occurs in certain groups. Similar to the isolation that occurs with some police, firefighters, ER doctors, and veterans. If you aren't grounded in something outside, you become isolated inside.
Some wealthy/powerful people have it, some don't. Bill Clinton (independent of his politics) looks/acts like someone who'd be fun at a party. Hillary, I'm not so sure about. Reagan and Dole maintained a approachable grandfatherly air about them. Bill gates would look right at home in a D&D game. Romney and Bloomberg seem distant. Trump is different. I'm not sure if he's actually a real person, a persona gone wrong, or a victim of his success.

Response by SPC Ei McS made Jun 18 at 2015 10:17 PM

2015-06-18T22:17:30-04:00

I don't think it's the income necessarily only. Some wealthy people are down-to earth. Maybe it's people with "old riches" that are more down to earth, not the "jet-setters".

Anyway, but I do believe it's got something to do with character and personality for sure.

To some extent also what values a person was taught from home, while growing up.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 18 at 2015 11:58 PM

2015-06-18T23:58:50-04:00

None of them are "in touch" with "common" Americans. They are all millionaires or billionaires, and the majority of us AREN'T.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jun 19 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-06-19T08:42:41-04:00

For me, Its not the income, but the level of withdrawl from society the make as celebrity and notoriety forces them to stop spending time with the general public. When you can't go out for a burger or see a movie in a community theater because people mob you or won't leave you alone to do your grocery shopping, that's when you become reclusive and loose touch. George Bush Senior, I think, was criticized for not knowing about electronic grocery store check out, but really; the man had been President for over four years. I seriously doubt he had been allowed to go buy his own ice cream during that time.

However, wealthy and isolated to some degree is what we are going to get as running for high public offices requires more and more money just to be given a shot.

Response by SSG Paul Setterholm made Jun 19 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-06-19T11:18:01-04:00

People I have know that started out as the "common" man and now are wealthy change over time. At 1st, they would have parties and invite tons of ppl. Now they have few friends and are paranoid everyone is out to get something from them.

Response by SGT Greg Tibbles made Jun 20 at 2015 11:14 AM

2015-06-20T11:14:56-04:00

I believe that it's how you make the money that determines if you're "in touch". He's made his through real estate and employs tens of thousands of people.

Hillary on the other hand made hers through "speaches" and backroom political deals...

There's a huge difference!