The Verdict Is In: End Congressional Perks

By , Money Morning • January 20, 2012

Three-day workweeks. A full pension. Retirement benefits. Gym memberships. Car service. Free flights to anywhere in the world and travel allowances worth thousands of dollars...

With so many Americans struggling to just find a job, isn't time we put an end to Congressional perks like these?

That's the question we put to you just a few short weeks ago. And we're happy to say the response has been overwhelming.

We've been inundated with comments and responses. Here's just a small sampling:

• "Throw them out... all of them... anyone of them who suckled at the teat of American taxpayers."

• "They need to lead by example and make sacrifices like the average American and be reviewed on their accomplishments. If they truly work for the American people they must apply more time and effort into their job in order to receive that compensation."

• "Their actions have diminished our retirement savings such that if we live more than 6 years we will be impoverished. Maybe if they feel what other Americans must feel like, they could revert to "service," not wealth as their motivator."

• "They should be thrown in jail."

So far, 8,746 readers (99% of you) have voted to end Congressional perks while 78 readers - presumably Congressmen - voted against the initiative.

This is precisely the message we want to send to Congress - but we're not done yet. We need as many votes as possible. And if you haven't voted yet, there's still time.

So if you haven't done so already let your voice be heard through Money Morning's online survey by clicking here.

The more votes we have, the better chance of getting our voices heard.
So forward this information to your friends, and share it on Facebook and Twitter - anything you can do to get the word out and send Congress a message.