What do you think Congressmen and Senators care about?

[AllentownJake]

What is the most important thing on the mind of the people that represent us in Congress?

[Greyhound]

1. We need an 'other', please. n/t

[Forkboy]

2. There's no one answer. Some care about the people they serve a lot, some a little, some not at all.

I think many believe they are doing the right thing, but are waaaay out of touch with common people, so that belief is a skewed one. It also may be that what they feel is the right thing is also what they feel will help them get reelected...and sometimes that's correct. So there's no one answer to this.

[Flabbergasted]

3. +1 nt

[saracat]

6. I partially agree but those who are interested, even if out of touch, or delusional

are very few.

[lpbk2713]

4. Broadening their power base.

Which, in the end, converts to hard cash.

[saracat]

5. Getting reelected and holding on to power. The WH is exactly the same.

And getting the money necessary to retain power.It used to be the reason for getting the power and holding on to it was to better the people. Now the power and position are acquired just for their own ends. Power is of itself a finite goal with no other ambitions.

[quaker bill]

15. +1

[elleng]

7. Their jobs, as do most of us.

[autorank]

8. Other: The rake off and the revolving door n/t k*r

[barbtries]

9. money nt

[lostnfound]

11. +1. Money, with a few exceptions. nt

[cali]

10. well, I'm the one vote for option 1, but I'm only applying it to my reps

I'll leave it to others to judge theirs. Bernie Sanders, Pat Leahy and Peter Welch are all good people and good reps. Glad to be represented by them.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Increase their personal wealth.

That choice is conspicuously absent in this poll. Most of these people couldn't think their way out of a paper bag but they're good at glad-handing and baby kissing and saying the right things and, in politics, that's all you need.

[gleaner]

13. I chose "Other" .....

Some of them care about all of the things that you listed, others not so much, but they are all different. I also chose "Other" because a lot of Congress people care very much for those private "donations' that they get from lobbyists and special interests which insure the future even if they are never elected again. If they can get their dollars and still hold office it must be like manna from heaven to them. One thing I can say about all of them though, is that I trust very few of them and most of them not at all. They are not like us. They can lie with a smile, send your mother to the bread lines and tear the shirt off your back without turning a hair.

[Sancho]

14. $$$$$$$$$$$'s

Except for a very small minority...

[struggle4progress]

16. There are over 500 Representatives and Senators. Sweeping generalizations are pointless.

A variety of motives can lead people to seek these offices

[old mark]

17. Re-election - they want a lifelong ride with all the honors and perks that

"regular" people never see. Also, the chance to make tons more money and have their egos stroked a million more times. Politicians are emotionally unstable needy people, with limited understanding of others other than how to manipulate them. They crave "Greatness".
And of course power and the cash that comes with it.

And screwing a young aide or page every so often.

I have a very low opinion of pols - my dad used to hang with the local ones many years ago and they all profited financially from absolutely everything that happened. They all pretty much suck.

mark