Politicians....Ugh

  One of my biggest pet peeves about politics, or really the politicians themselves, is that the decisions they make never seem to affect themselves negatively. It's always "the average citizen" who takes the hit and suffers the consequences. 

  The hardest one for me has always been sending troops to make peace or to armed conflict. Most politicians have never been in the military. Normally neither have their children. Or any family member. So when they decide to send troops to say Mali or Afghanistan they are deciding on the lives of people they have no connection to. Yes, I'm sure they think long and hard before deciding but the thought process would be different if their son or daughter was strapping a rifle to their back and heading out. I can assure you of that.

  When the US politicians talk about health care being a privilege and not a right it seems odd that the vast majority of these people talking have always had insurance. And now have the cadillac of insurance policies through their job. They have never had to worry about taking an ill child to a doctor and then getting a bill that will take years to pay. Or buying medication for strep or needing surgery. These rich folks have never had that. Yet they are talking as experts about costs and access. It drives me crazy. Ask a few poor people for a reality check.

  Tax-Free Savings Accounts are one of the greatest things for Canadians. Since its inception in 2009, any Canadian could have put up to $57,500 in one. Well if anyone has an extra $5500 a year to save that is. With no immediate tax savings, it still falls short when compared to an RRSP until it's time to cash it out. That's where the real benefit is. But the average person struggles to max out their RRSP, most do not come even close, let alone find the extra cash for this little gem. Yet I'd bet some of my TFSA funds that every politician has maxed out both. With some money left over. 

  Politicians vote on their own raise. And they never vote for 1% instead of say 5%. Nope, they get whatever they ask for. Teachers, police, EMT's well they have to take whatever "the budget" has room for. Funny how there is room for some but not for all. Most, of course not all, politicians are more well off than the rest of us to begin with. And all make a higher than average salary. No wonder they will say whatever is necessary to keep their cushy positions.

  I'm sure all politicians go into the job with good intentions. And I'm also sure the decisions they make are based on what they think is best. It just seems like what's best for them isn't best for the rest of us!

  Ang

***I just heard a Trump staff member say that those who are not getting paid because of the shutdown were probably going to take vacation over the holidays anyway so they are actually ahead. You can't make this stuff up folks!***