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Should Members of Congress Be allowed to Fly First Class?

Should Members of Congress be Allowed to Fly First Class?

  • Total voters
    35
I can see no basis for singling out members of Congress.

How many millions and millions are spend on traveling expenses for Obama's touring of golf courses to play golf with the super rich at exclusive country clubs no ordinary citizen can ever play on - and for his frequent vacations in Hawaii?

People are bitching about members of Congress flying 1st class, when this is how the President travels:
airforce5.jpg

[video]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9dbngdo6bc/T1-capHtinI/AAAAAAAABE0/YCDzzBwL4hE/s1600/airforce5.jpg[/video]

Plus another 2 jets bringing along those who dance around him praising him, shining his shoes, kissing his ass, and writing his speeches.
 
LaMidRighter said:
It's not the symbolism, it's the money. Politicians always force more taxes to pay for their pet projects, retirements, etc. and this is just another slap in the face.
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Projects which their constituents often want or "need" (well, unless you aren't a constituent, in which case it becomes "pork"). Frankly, from time to time the public ought to be slapped in the face and reminded that they aren't nearly as awesome as they make themselves think they are.
 
joko104 said:
I can see no basis for singling out members of Congress.

How many millions and millions are spend on traveling expenses for Obama's touring of golf courses to play golf with the super rich at exclusive country clubs no ordinary citizen can ever play on - and for his frequent vacations in Hawaii?

People are bitching about members of Congress flying 1st class, when this is how the President travels:
airforce5.jpg

[video]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9dbngdo6bc/T1-capHtinI/AAAAAAAABE0/YCDzzBwL4hE/s1600/airforce5.jpg[/video]

Plus another 2 jets bringing along those who dance around him praising him, shining his shoes, kissing his ass, and writing his speeches.
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There is a heightened issue of security with the president.
 
Maenad said:
There is a heightened issue of security with the president.
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Yes, and zero sense of security for members of Congress.
 
Fiddytree said:
Projects which their constituents often want or "need" (well, unless you aren't a constituent, in which case it becomes "pork"). Frankly, from time to time the public ought to be slapped in the face and reminded that they aren't nearly as awesome as they make themselves think they are.
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Don't get me wrong, when I say pet projects all of them are included whether the congressman is voting their own project, public pork designed to sway the next election in their favor, and lobbied laws that hurt those not represented by the law or project. No matter which way you slice it, a project based on anything but public interest is wasted money which came from tax payers, it's even worse when you factor in the perks that these folks vote for themselves, the exemptions, and then having all the trappings of wealth on the backs of people who lose economic momentum paying for it with taxes.
 
If they are using their own money, sure. If they are using the taxpayer dime, absolutely not. Fly with the "common people".
 
joko104 said:
I can see no basis for singling out members of Congress.

How many millions and millions are spend on traveling expenses for Obama's touring of golf courses to play golf with the super rich at exclusive country clubs no ordinary citizen can ever play on - and for his frequent vacations in Hawaii?

People are bitching about members of Congress flying 1st class, when this is how the President travels:
airforce5.jpg

[video]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9dbngdo6bc/T1-capHtinI/AAAAAAAABE0/YCDzzBwL4hE/s1600/airforce5.jpg[/video]

Plus another 2 jets bringing along those who dance around him praising him, shining his shoes, kissing his ass, and writing his speeches.
Click to expand...

It would cost the American public in all likelihood much more money for the President to fly even in coach than to simply have him fly in government owned aircraft.

Executive One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some rules for the President.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21835.pdf

Heck, he is supposed to reimburse the government for all non-office related trips.
 
Yeah, if they are the ones paying for it.
 
DaveFagan said:
I think they should pay any difference between first class prices and economy out of their own pockets. The only airfare paid should be back and forth to their home districts.
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Sign me up for this. I think it's completely just and correct that the tax payer foots the bill for a coach ticket(s) - staff you know, and if they want to pay the difference, fine by me.

Now, the select few congress critters that are living on the West coast, and ARE getting military transport, well, I can't abide by that, unless, of course, they want to pay for that as well.
 
roguenuke said:
It would cost the American public in all likelihood much more money for the President to fly even in coach than to simply have him fly in government owned aircraft.

Executive One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some rules for the President.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21835.pdf

Heck, he is supposed to reimburse the government for all non-office related trips.
Click to expand...

It would be a charter flight with no one but the president and the SS aboard. Probably cheaper just to keep Air Force One. Both of them. Did you know there are actually two?
 
MMC said:
Why Are Members of Congress Using Your Money to Fly First-Class?

Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek ran a feature titled, The Pampered World of Congressional Air Travel. The story detailed the cushy and expensive travel bookings Congressman and Senators make on a regular basis with frequent trips back and forth to their home states and districts. The cost to taxpayers is enormous, but could be much less if they'd simply swallow their pride and sit in coach with the rest of us.

554808f4-a9f9-487b-923e-df5be72f3029.jpg


"There is no more pampered class of air traveler than members of Congress.

At Washington’s Reagan National Airport, they have their own special parking spaces—right up close to the terminal—that they don’t even have to pay for. As Bloomberg Television’s Hans Nichols reports, this perk costs the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority $738,760 in foregone revenue.

To members of our fly-in-Tuesday-fly-home-Thursday Congress, these perks are a big deal. Most fly a lot, and many fly first class. They don’t just jet home to their districts. Sometimes, they’re jetting around the world at taxpayer expense ($23,646, to be specific), as Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas did in February. "

"As with all federal spending, Member's Representational Allowance funds are taxpayer dollars. As such, the use of these funds must be exercised with the utmost efficiency and transparency. A loophole currently exists that allows members of Congress to fly first-class at the expense of the taxpayer. Members of Congress are servants of the people and should not be considered a privileged class. Luxury airfare accommodations utilizing taxpayer monies would seem inappropriate in any fiscal climate but at a time of soaring deficits and with a federal debt in excess of $17 trillion such expenditures are especially wasteful," the request states. "If federal restrictions prohibit members of our military from traveling first-class, this same standard should also apply to Members of Congress."

"It's absolutely wasteful and completely unacceptable that Members of Congress - servants of the people - are currently allowed to fly first class using hard-earned taxpayer money.....snip~

Why Are Members of Congress Using Your Money to Fly First-Class? - Katie Pavlich


There you have it.....the loophole our servants always use. That they shouldn't be considered a privileged class. Yet that's exactly what they have become and use, manipulate, connive, and get around. Its high time it stops. They are no better than you or I. Nor any others. Time for our privileged servants to go back to just being servants. Perhaps if we actually started treating them like servants. They would get the message. What say ye?
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Hell no.
 
These petty complaints are annoying. Government cost trillions and wastes hundreds of billions, and the debate is members of Congress flying first class - while it cost millions to fly the President and we are paying millions for his vacations?

Not ALL members of Congress are rich. I think poor members of Congress should be able to fly 1st class like all the others. Otherwise it could be the rich white Congress members who can pay up in 1st class, and poor minority members have to go "sit at the back of the bus/plane" for lack of being rich.
 
Maenad said:
It would be a charter flight with no one but the president and the SS aboard. Probably cheaper just to keep Air Force One. Both of them. Did you know there are actually two?
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Whatever the President is flying in is "... One". Such as there has only ever been one "Navy One" (as of right now anyway).
 
joko104 said:
These petty complaints are annoying. Government cost trillions and wastes hundreds of billions, and the debate is members of Congress flying first class - while it cost millions to fly the President and we are paying millions for his vacations?

Not ALL members of Congress are rich. I think poor members of Congress should be able to fly 1st class like all the others. Otherwise it could be the rich white Congress members who can pay up in 1st class, and poor minority members have to go "sit at the back of the bus/plane" for lack of being rich.
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I think at $174K a year, they can afford at least business class most of the time (especially if they only had to pay the upgrade). If our military members have to do it so should Congressmen. They make us do it, including officers.
 
joko104 said:
These petty complaints are annoying. Government cost trillions and wastes hundreds of billions, and the debate is members of Congress flying first class - while it cost millions to fly the President and we are paying millions for his vacations?

Not ALL members of Congress are rich. I think poor members of Congress should be able to fly 1st class like all the others. Otherwise it could be the rich white Congress members who can pay up in 1st class, and poor minority members have to go "sit at the back of the bus/plane" for lack of being rich.
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Mornin' Joko. :2wave: That's the usual come back.....that there is nothing to be done. Pennies here and there. Sure the OP is about flying. But I am sure we could have had one up showing all kinds of things these Servants are taking advantage of and stealing from the American people.

There is the slight problem that in todays generation. That they think that because one is elected this makes he or she a leader. We know such is hardly the case, but its the mindset they have.

Their our Leaders and that they can constantly screw up and get over on those who elect them????? Prime example is when their own people want to remove them from Office. The servant now no longer wants to give up serving. So the Servant takes it into court to fight to stick around in a Position in the community. That The majority of the people no longer want them in.

There are all kinds of things these guys take advantage of.....one is walking around thinking they should keep a title or hat they no longer carry. Like Gingrich who takes Delight in still be called Mr Speaker.

How about this.....Mr Gingrich.....the former so and so. Let us be clear. Mr. Gingrich today is not so and so, and is not part of the process or in government. Yet he is here today to speak to us on.....yada yada nada pravada.

Moreover.....all of them know about that lil line about don't consider them Privileged and play on it.

Well it does say Servant.....time to start treating them ALL, like Servants!

George Washington......use to put out alcohol to get people to vote for him, even poured people a drink. I figure these new breed of Politicians need to be taken back to the roots of what it is being a Servant. Reminding them all the time.....there are consequences when the Servant can't fulfill their duties of Serving.
 
MMC said:
Mornin' Joko. :2wave: That's the usual come back.....that there is nothing to be done. Pennies here and there. Sure the OP is about flying. But I am sure we could have had one up showing all kinds of things these Servants are taking advantage of and stealing from the American people.

There is the slight problem that in todays generation. That they think that because one is elected this makes he or she a leader. We know such is hardly the case, but its the mindset they have.

Their our Leaders and that they can constantly screw up and get over on those who elect them????? Prime example is when their own people want to remove them from Office. The servant now no longer wants to give up serving. So the Servant takes it into court to fight to stick around in a Position in the community. That The majority of the people no longer want them in.

There are all kinds of things these guys take advantage of.....one is walking around thinking they should keep a title or hat they no longer carry. Like Gingrich who takes Delight in still be called Mr Speaker.

How about this.....Mr Gingrich.....the former so and so. Let us be clear. Mr. Gingrich today is not so and so, and is not part of the process or in government. Yet he is here today to speak to us on.....yada yada nada pravada.

Moreover.....all of them know about that lil line about don't consider them Privileged and play on it.

Well it does say Servant.....time to start treating them ALL, like Servants!

George Washington......use to put out alcohol to get people to vote for him, even poured people a drink. I figure these new breed of Politicians need to be taken back to the roots of what it is being a Servant. Reminding them all the time.....there are consequences when the Servant can't fulfill their duties of Serving.
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The first thing that came to my mind is Pelosi stating that "we have to pass it to see what's in it," when she was discussing the ACA. Does that sound like a servant or an elitist speaking? And these are the persons who are running our government? No wonder the world wonders what is going on in America - we look like we don't know what we're doing!

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:
 
polgara said:
The first thing that came to my mind is Pelosi stating that "we have to pass it to see what's in it," when she was discussing the ACA. Does that sound like a servant or an elitist speaking? And these are the persons who are running our government? No wonder the world wonders what is going on in America - we look like we don't know what we're doing!

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:
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Mornin' Lady P.
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I think when we listen to them talk in front of the camera it says it all. Rarely do they sound like servants unless it is a newly elected member.

Its like any of them can call up the Press and say they want airtime. Pelosi, McCain, Reid, and Ryan. Even to just criticize the other party. I even think the Press enables them to think they are Privileged and in doing so. Allows the Press and Media to take on the same mantle. Privileged.
 
MMC said:
Mornin' Lady P.
wave.gif
I think when we listen to them talk in front of the camera it says it all. Rarely do they sound like servants unless it is a newly elected member.

Its like any of them can call up the Press and say they want airtime. Pelosi, McCain, Reid, and Ryan. Even to just criticize the other party. I even think the Press enables them to think they are Privileged and in doing so. Allows the Press and Media to take on the same mantle. Privileged.
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Even Republicans have that sort of power? Here I thought that the media was in bed with the Democrats. At least, I keep hearing about how they are.
 
joko104 said:
Would you have the President also stay in to barracks? Or is this your call for a totally Imperial President in relation to Congress?
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I am fine with the president living in the whitehouse.That is who it was built for.He has a different position than congressmen and senators.
 
roguenuke said:
I don't think the President travels often (if ever) by commercial flights due to security concerns and it would be different if Congress members were traveling via some government means that was more private, like Air Force One and their reason was security concerns. But if they are traveling like the rest of us, on commercial flights then there is no valid security concern they can make in why they should be in first class vice coach since nothing about first class makes a passenger on an airliner safer.
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It is safer as a matter of privacy and getting sick.
 
I don't want the masses/mob to control government nor want peasants running it. The result is socialism and such as the French Revolution that goes on a killing/tyranny spree. I want government to be from among our very best and brightest and usually that isn't someone flipping burgers at McDonalds or driving a delivery truck.

I also think our elected representatives should be treated as holding high positions of honor, nor want poor Congress members at the back of the aircraft and rich ones up front, just I don't want rich people up front and our elected representatives shoved to the back.
 
Dittohead not! said:
Even Republicans have that sort of power? Here I thought that the media was in bed with the Democrats. At least, I keep hearing about how they are.
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Heya DH......yep even Repubs. But that still doesn't change that the MS media far more liberal than whats led on. The kicker is the all those heartfelt warming stories that don't have to do with anything. That come out of far left field.

Or when they direct us to look at the other privilege group that comes out of Hollywood and TV Land.
 
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