Sometimes a story exposes so starkly the class nature of our society to deserve little comment. Millions losing homes, millions unemployed, talk of cutting social security and raising the age to retire, Republicans refusing to continue unemployment payments to the long term unemployed, food stamps being used by 1/4 of Americans, that's right 1/4.
You wonder why?
WaPo, Congress members' personal wealth grew 16% amid downturn, study shows
Times might be tough for most Americans, but not for the well-heeled lawmakers in Congress.
The personal wealth of members of Congress collectively increased 16 percent between 2008 and 2009, even as the broader economic downturn eliminated thousands of jobs for ordinary Americans, according to a study by the Center for Responsive Politics released Wednesday.
In the House, the study found, median wealth grew to $765,010, up from $645,503 in 2008. In the Senate, median wealth grew from $2.27 million in 2008 to $2.38 million in 2009.
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"Few federal lawmakers must grapple with the financial ills - unemployment, loss of housing, wiped out savings - that have befallen millions of Americans," said Sheila Krumholz, the center's executive director.
WaPo, Congress members' personal wealth grew 16% amid downturn, study shows
We lost our democracy a long time ago. Discuss.