The Top Ten Senators vs. The Average American
I’m currently reading The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Norris. I have found the fervor with which Roosevelt fought the “unholy alliance between big business, politics, and the courts” profoundly inspiring. I do not have the resources (relationally or monetarily) that Roosevelt possessed, but I do have strong convictions, a brain, and a decent proficiency for graphic design. This is my first attempt to use that proficiency to affect political reform in our country. As I’ve conveyed to several friends over the last year, the issue is not Republican vs. Democrat, but corporatism. And it is my contention that corporatism has infected both parties. I believe the chart below speaks for itself in this regard. I would love to hear your thoughts and would greatly appreciate it if you shared this chart with your friends and family!
Oct 14, 2009
I forgot to note that the net worth for the average American came from http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/average-net-worth-of-an-american-family.html
so…i’m not sure what you are saying. i mean, really saying. the graph looks great (except you left off the senator from WVa’s first name).
are you trying to say that people with less means should have representation in the game? how would that happen? it takes $ to run for office–just getting your name out there, etc. takes resources. and some of these people (like Kerry and Kennedy) are worth what they are worth because of family.
Interesting that 7 of the 10 are Democrats. I wonder how much they hate big business. Regardless, pretty sure only a few Senators are in touch with the average American. Clean Slate!
Interesting to note that while traditionally the conservatives have been the party of “big money” 7 of the top 10 are Democrats.
Thanks for citing me as a resource, I’m honored. My data is based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/PUBS/oss/oss2/scfindex.html
Gordon Smith is not a Senator. Anymore.
Also, John Kerry’s wife (Theresa Heinz) is worth some 300 million but he is not. Pre-nup and all that. He’s not poor by any means, but as I recall, he might be in the $10 M range.
@kristi – I have some conclusions and will update the post to reflect those soon. I’m curious to know what others conclude from the chart before I share mine.
@ej and @david – interesting.
@jim – thanks for stopping by. My apologies that I forgot to mention you in the first place
I will update the image notes to reflect you as a source.
@PeeJ – Good point about Gordon Smith. The numbers from OpenSecrets.org were from 2007. I will note that in the image.
Who are all these “average Americans” that have $120,300? All the Americans I know are worth about $120.30.
What is your point? Rich people should not be in government?
There are a couple truly ridiculous comments here…
Of course rich people should be allowed in government (assuming we have or need government, an as-yet unproved assumption).
The problem is when people get rich because they are in government, and at the expense of those who are not a corporate special interest.
Sure, politicians have to start with something to finance a campaign, but as they as, “it takes money to make money”.
Anyone who truly believes that there is a single one of these massively wealthy senators whose wealth doesn’t involve huge supplements of money indirectly funneled their way by special interest lobbyists, is naïve to the point of absurdity.
I am a life long Republican and support capitalism with oversight but what appears to be happening is a shift in power to the elite in this country (Dems and Reps) more than ever before. My fear is they will destroy the middle class so they can control policy over the masses for years to come. If they destroy the middle class and continue to make all the rules, they can control the population by making them dependent on the government for everything. Top 50 congressman are all worth min of $6M or more in 2008….these numbers are more current.