Is it Worth Bothering to Serve in Congress?
With news of Evan Bayh's retirement so he can do, well, better stuff, we should consider whether serving in Congress is even a worthwhile endeavor.
At this point in the election cycle, 30 Democrats and 28 Republicans are pursuing other plans of some sort, though a few have passed away, and that's a hell of a plan to pursue. (Please note, though, that the seats Team Blue is abandoning are generally more competitive than those the GOP has left unattended.)
Why don't they want to be in Congress? Isn't it nearly the height of political accomplishment in America?
Well, you don't get paid that well, especially compared to the private sector. And it's incredibly annoying and expensive to run for. And you have to maintain two residences, at least one of which is in the fairly pricey Capitol Hill neighborhood. And if you do choose to serve, it's tempting to use it as a springboard to bigger and better things. And you have to haul your butt back home every weekend, and home could be 3000 miles away. And everyone holds you accountable for things that aren't your fault. And people constantly ask you to do stupid stuff, like vote for bills you hate and send flags to constituents and crap like that.
Man... being in Congress SUCKS. Why don't they ALL quit?
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