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big_load 
Group: Members
Posts: 21831
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 17 2013, 10:18 pm |
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I hope they slam that loophole shut. Some of those aides may find it harder than expected to get certain jobs in the future. Unfortunately, those who are aiming for Congress themselves will find the bar still set pretty low.
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justwalkin
Group: Members
Posts: 394
Joined: Nov. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 17 2013, 10:55 pm |
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Disgusting. Get a rope.
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If a day in the mountains is better than a week at work, why aren't I working in the mountains?
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21831
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 4:30 pm |
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(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:08 pm)
QUOTE
(big_load @ Feb. 17 2013, 7:18 pm)
QUOTE I hope they slam that loophole shut. Count our lucky stars that we are the most powerful nation on Earth -- and our national and foreign policies have far-reaching consequences all around the globe -- both intended and unintended. Countries the world over regularly sponsor trips for congressional staffers -- or better yet, the congress men and women themselves! Yes, these trips are designed to showcase the local side of the story -- which won't be unbiased. And there will be entertainment thrown in as well. But for the most part -- I'd rather Congress craft laws and regulations after gaining at least some first hand exposure -- see and hear the other side of the story -- versus none at all. In the ideal world, we would want to design and fund these "fact-finding" missions ourselves -- but seriously, how many here would vote tax dollars to pay for trips to Senegal or Bangladesh or any of the other 194 countries?
I would much rather have our government paying for it than another.
Answering "Yes" to "Have you ever accepted money from a foreign government?" is going to bring a quick end to some job interviews.
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39560
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 4:52 pm |
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(big_load @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:47 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:39 pm)
QUOTE The kind of jobs that former congressional staffers might be interested in... having ready relationships with foreign officials may be seen as a very big plus, actually! Accepting money is one thing. Having gone on trips is quite another. Having gone on trips that were paid for by foreign governments is accepting money. You may feel the distinction is important, but the people who ask the questions do not.
And then there's the blatant overbalance towards recreational activities versus sitting in rooms studying spreadsheets or touring factories and mines.
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Ben2World
Group: Members
Posts: 23917
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 4:59 pm |
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(big_load @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:47 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:39 pm)
QUOTE The kind of jobs that former congressional staffers might be interested in... having ready relationships with foreign officials may be seen as a very big plus, actually! Accepting money is one thing. Having gone on trips is quite another. Having gone on trips that were paid for by foreign governments is accepting money. You may feel the distinction is important, but the people who ask the questions do not.
And who are those people? If enough of them view the way you do, then congressional staff won't embark on those trips. Thus far, I doubt it's even a problem.
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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Ben2World
Group: Members
Posts: 23917
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 5:00 pm |
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(High_Sierra_Fan @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:52 pm)
QUOTE
(big_load @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:47 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:39 pm)
QUOTE The kind of jobs that former congressional staffers might be interested in... having ready relationships with foreign officials may be seen as a very big plus, actually! Accepting money is one thing. Having gone on trips is quite another. Having gone on trips that were paid for by foreign governments is accepting money. You may feel the distinction is important, but the people who ask the questions do not. And then there's the blatant overbalance towards recreational activities versus sitting in rooms studying spreadsheets or touring factories and mines.
Money is tight everywhere. I'm sure the host governments would rather not spend the money on rec's if they didn't feel like they have to. 
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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BillBab
Group: Members
Posts: 4490
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 5:01 pm |
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So much for the plan to get lobbyists out of govt
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"Asking liberals where wages and prices come from is like asking six-year-olds where babies come from."
Thomas Sowell
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39560
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 6:32 pm |
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(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 2:00 pm)
QUOTE
(High_Sierra_Fan @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:52 pm)
QUOTE
(big_load @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:47 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:39 pm)
QUOTE The kind of jobs that former congressional staffers might be interested in... having ready relationships with foreign officials may be seen as a very big plus, actually! Accepting money is one thing. Having gone on trips is quite another. Having gone on trips that were paid for by foreign governments is accepting money. You may feel the distinction is important, but the people who ask the questions do not. And then there's the blatant overbalance towards recreational activities versus sitting in rooms studying spreadsheets or touring factories and mines. Money is tight everywhere. I'm sure the host governments would rather not spend the money on rec's if they didn't feel like they have to.
Yes but with the truth of "he who pays the piper calls the tune" I'm not at all comfortable with foreign governments with their own agendas not at all concerned with our national well being (and they shouldn't be of course) calling the tunes within our national legislature.
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Ben2World
Group: Members
Posts: 23917
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 18 2013, 6:55 pm |
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(High_Sierra_Fan @ Feb. 18 2013, 3:32 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 2:00 pm)
QUOTE
(High_Sierra_Fan @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:52 pm)
QUOTE
(big_load @ Feb. 18 2013, 1:47 pm)
QUOTE
(Ben2World @ Feb. 18 2013, 4:39 pm)
QUOTE The kind of jobs that former congressional staffers might be interested in... having ready relationships with foreign officials may be seen as a very big plus, actually! Accepting money is one thing. Having gone on trips is quite another. Having gone on trips that were paid for by foreign governments is accepting money. You may feel the distinction is important, but the people who ask the questions do not. And then there's the blatant overbalance towards recreational activities versus sitting in rooms studying spreadsheets or touring factories and mines. Money is tight everywhere. I'm sure the host governments would rather not spend the money on rec's if they didn't feel like they have to. Yes but with the truth of "he who pays the piper calls the tune" I'm not at all comfortable with foreign governments with their own agendas not at all concerned with our national well being (and they shouldn't be of course) calling the tunes within our national legislature.
I am not comfortable with it either. But I think any kind of banning solution will be far worse. Our staffers will just be that much more ignorant about things outside our borders...
And of course, we know we will never pay good money to hear what foreigners think about our laws.
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
