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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
April 1, 2009
/ 7 Nissan 5769
Congress calling the kettle black
By
Jonathan Gurwitz
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
During Rick Wagoner's tenure as CEO of General Motors from 2000 until his White House-orchestrated departure over the weekend, GM's stock lost 95 percent of its value. The company's last profitable year was 2004. Its cumulative losses since then total $82 billion nothing compared to an Obama deficit, but not exactly chump change.
Wagoner's estimated compensation last year was almost $15 million. Under the terms of the initial GM bailout approved in December, he had agreed to a salary of only $1 this year. Now he's getting a presidential wingtip in the rear.
Say what you will about the desirability of the commander in chief making personnel decisions for semi-socialized businesses. At least the president is trying to hold some institutions and individuals on the government dole accountable.
But can you think of any other institution that continuously drains the public treasury despite dismal public approval? Can you think of a group of leaders whose compensation is completely unrelated to performance, that routinely receives pay increases while consistently failing to perform their jobs? I'll give you 535 guesses.
The current economic crisis began with failed congressional oversight of the banking, investment and government-sponsored mortgage industries. The country is in recession. Unemployment is up. The deficit and the national debt are ballooning to record levels.
In the spirit of shared sacrifice, what is Congress giving up? Nothing.
Not pork barrel spending in the so-called $787 billion stimulus package. Not wasteful earmarks in the $410 billion omnibus spending bill. And not, evidently, automatic pay increases.
Under a two-decade old system, members of Congress receive an automatic cost of living adjustment, irrespective of what's happening beyond the Capitol's dome. In 2009, lawmakers will have $4,700 added to their paychecks, lifting their salaries to $174,000.
In the real world, you have to excel to receive a raise. In Congress, you don't need to do anything. In fact in Congress, you have to work diligently to repeal the automatic pay raise racket, as Sens. David Vitter R-La., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., have tried consistently to do.
Last month, finally, they were successful in passing a measure in the Senate that would end stealth salary increases and require lawmakers to take affirmative action to raise their pay. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership team opposes any change to the system of congressional payroll optimization.
When corporate executives redecorate their offices, it's called an affront to taxpayers. But when members of Congress try to spend $200 million to refurbish the National Mall, they call it a stimulus.
When Bernie Madoff bilks investors out of $65 billion, it's called the financial crime of the century. But when Social Security and Medicare face projected shortfalls in the trillions of dollars and Congress refuses to reform the payroll tax Ponzi scheme, it's called protecting seniors.
When AIG executives receive contractually obligated bonuses, it's an outrage. But when the members of Congress who are responsible for that outrage want to keep their annual pay raises on autopilot, they call it as Nancy Pelosi did tradition.
Wagoner, Madoff, the whole AIG crew sure, off with their heads, Mr. President. But spare a little outrage, too, for the people leading the populist mob in Congress, some of whom should have their necks in the guillotine as well.
Clarification: A Congressional Budget Office report referenced in last week's column said the deficits from the Obama budget, not only from its spending proposals, exceed those anticipated by the White House by $2.3 trillion over 10 years
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
JWR contributor Jonathan Gurwitz, a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, is a co-founder and twice served as Director General of the Future Leaders of the Alliance program at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. In 1986 he was placed on the Foreign Service Register of the U.S. State Department.
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© 2009, Jonathan Gurwitz
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