‘World’s Poorest President’ Explains Why We Should Kick Rich People Out Of Politics

[L. Coyote]

Not new, but hey, worth the read:

‘World’s Poorest President’ Explains Why We Should Kick Rich People Out Of Politics
http://collectivelyconscious.net/articles/worlds-poorest-president-explains-why-we-should-kick-rich-people-out-of-politics/

People who like money too much ought to be kicked out of politics, Uruguayan President José Mujica told CNN en Español in an interview posted online Wednesday.

“We invented this thing called representative democracy, where we say the majority is who decides,” Mujica said in the interview. “So it seems to me that we [heads of state] should live like the majority and not like the minority.”

Dubbed the “World’s Poorest President” in a widely circulated BBC piece from 2012, Mujica reportedly donates 90 percent of his salary to charity. Mujica’s example offers a strong contrast to the United States, where in politics the median member of Congress is worth more than $1 million and corporations have many of the same rights as individuals when it comes to donating to political campaigns.

“The red carpet, people who play — those things,” Mujica said, mimicking a person playing a cornet. “All those things are feudal leftovers. And the staff that surrounds the president are like the old court.”

Mujica explained that he didn’t have anything against rich people, per se, but he doesn’t think they do a good job representing the interests of the majority of people who aren’t rich.

“I’m not against people who have money, who like money, who go crazy for money,” Mujica said. “But in politics we have to separate them. ................

[daleanime]

1. K&R.....

[wildbilln864]

2. k & r & thanks! n/t

[RufusTFirefly]

3. Bernie Sanders' estimated net worth (in 2013): $330,000

Meanwhile...

The former secretary of state and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, made more than $25 million in speaking fees alone between the start of 2014 and mid-May of this year, according to financial disclosures.

Source: Sanders Among The Least Wealthy Presidential Candidates

[PeaceNikki]

4. There are like 4,385 Republicans running for POTUS and you feel the need to bash another Democrat.

I'll never understand that mentality. But this is not GDP and I avoid it for that reason.

[GummyBearz]

12. Maybe he can't vote in the republican primaries

And even if he could, he doesn't see how its possible to criticize 4,385 candidates in one post. So the next best option: criticize the rich person in your party standing in the way of the poor person in your party. It seems to make sense to me.

[riderinthestorm]

5. Love him! K&R nt

[tblue37]

6. K&R for visibility. nt

[oberliner]

7. He's also an atheist

Really interesting person.

[smirkymonkey]

8. Hey, we'll have a job opening next year...

just saying.

[ErikJ]

9. Greed breeds corruption which afflicts 90% of the countries.

enriching the few and impoverishing the majority.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. This is another reason I like Bernie.

[appalachiablue]

11. K & R. I like his views.

~ If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. ~ Thomas Paine.

[tk2kewl]

13. me too!

“The tie is a useless rag that constrains your neck,” Mujica said during the interview.