I think they should get less vacation time than us, but my point was that they were doing what *France* does!

Secondly, I am disappointed you didn't grab the low hanging fruit of the self serving nature that passing this legislation accomplished. What with the VA in the news and all how can a congress critter enjoy the peace and quiet of listening to the monied interests when the constituents are angry they left this unfinished business hanging around. At least now they can go home and claim to have done something good, and when they get back they get to find away to blame Obama for not doing enough to fix the problem.

In my book it is a selfish win-win for congress. They get more vacation than a middle class american and they get to do nothing for a better than middle class compensation package. But then again what can we expect from a bunch of people who are more interested in managing the interests of the ones who bought them over the interests of the ones who brought them. That is a drum that needs to see more action.

Yeah, but the difference is that EVERYone gets that vacation time. It is MANDATED BY LAW that they get something like SIX WEEKS paid vacation every year. Six weeks! And that is not just for people making a lot of money, it is for the cashiers and burger-flippers at McDonald's, as well.

If the American people were guaranteed five weeks paid vacation every year, then I would not have the tiniest problem with Congress taking August off, how's that?

:-)

-CW

When is France NOT "on vacation"??? :D

Michale

Please dance to my tune.

Chris, you've been beating this drum for so long and so well that I've come to think of you as the Neil Peart of Congressional laziness reporting

I couldn't agree more!

Yes I am.. :D

Unlocking is still illegal until contract expiration. The only thing the bill does is allow independent unlocking other than by the carrier upon contract expiration.--Might help you but won't help consumers much. Unlocking fees not being a major problem.

Unlock codes when unlocking is illegal??
$50-$200

Unlock codes when unlocking is legal??
$5-$20

I rest my case... :D

Your "stealing" their "intellectual property" is illegal. Their stealing your physical property is mandated by law.--Not what I call the system working.

Oh, could I tell you some horror stories, LD..

Google DIREC-TV and LEGAL EXTORTION.... :D

For the record, I am in complete, utter and unequivocal agreement with you...

Michale

I still say congress-critters out raising money is better for us than wasting millions on committees for political stunts, to raise money, or voting on legislation that has zero chance of actually being enacted, to raise money.

Yes Congress is easily distracted by shiny objects. I just prefer them spending time talking someone else out of their money than spending the time wasting mine!

Lack of productivity is an issue. Poor attendance--Not so much.--Granted, they act like children, but this isn't grade school.

You sure are easy to please. The cell phone unlicking bill is nearly useless. Unlocking is still illegal until contract expiration. The only thing the bill does is allow independent unlocking other than by the carrier upon contract expiration.--Might help you but won't help consumers much. Unlocking fees not being a major problem.

The real issue, the one Congress isn't about to address, is the idea that third parties have a right to use your equipment for their own purposes against you. Locking, like many other so-called copyright protection schemes, relies on using your own equipment to your detriment and some third parties advantage. You're not allowed to control the equipment you paid for and supposedly own. Some company has a "right" to use your property, for free, in perpetually, to enforce their copyrights.

Your "stealing" their "intellectual property" is illegal. Their stealing your physical property is mandated by law.--Not what I call the system working.

Sometimes, the system DOES work..

Democrats, Republicans AND Obama.. All working together...

This is a big win for everyone and for me, personally...

Like I said.. Sometimes the system works...

Michale

{{cough}} {cough} Obama's Fundraisers {cough} {cough}

If it's OK for Obama, it's OK for CongressCritters, eh?? :D

Don't get me wrong. I completely agree with you CW...

I am just saying that shouldn't Obama be held to the same standard that you want to hold CongressCritters??

I mean, if something NEEDS to be done, if there is an URGENT need, then maybe our POTUS **AND** our CongressCritters should forgo the golf games and the fundraisers and concentrate on the jobs that we pay them to do..

Agreed???

Put them on a timeclock, and pay them an hourly wage, that's what I have to say about the situation.

Amen to frakin' THAT!!! :D

Michale

Oh, foof. I mean, really, just: foof.

Sure, Congresscritters do more than just make floor speeches, but a WHOPPING amount of what "else" they do is "raise money from donors." I challenge you: ask any congressman (off the record) how much of his supposedly-productive time he spends sucking up to donors, and I would be willing to bet it's 50% or higher. The system sucks, it's corrupt, and "district work period" to me means "hold two town halls, and take five trips to exotic destinations on the tab of large corporate interests."

Put them on a timeclock, and pay them an hourly wage, that's what I have to say about the situation.

Hmmmph.

-CW

Neal Peart! Wow, that's praise indeed. I just hope LizM realizes the Canadian significance of this.

:-)

Saw Rush in like 1976 or 1977... they were pretty awesome... couldn't believe three guys were making all of that sound!

-CW

The End is near.

While I share the sentiment I'm not big on propaganda, Conservative or Progressive. And your numbers just aren't fair. Congress doesn't have to be "in session" to be working. And you know it. The coming round of Town Halls, for example, are Congress working. And likely being more productive than when they're actually In Session. Communicating clearly with constituents is valuable and productive, even if you don't support the positions being taken.

I agree that voters should be outraged at the abysmal productivity of Congress. But I'm not terribly concerned over all the long weekends and breaks when they're, supposedly, going home to talk to constituents.

Congress does so little with the time it actually spends in Washington I see no reason to obsess over their not spending more time there. Its foolish to rant over all the days off an employee takes if all they do is sleep on the job when they're present!

We should be outraged over how little they accomplish, and even worse how counterproductive they are. Like all the time and money wasted defunding Obamacare and investigating conservative conspiracy theories, ad nauseam, like Benghazi. They not only don't address our issues, the exacerbate them.

Being "on vacation" is actually more productive.