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EPA file
Would you buy a used fiscal cliff from these people? Americans give Congress low marks for honesty and ethical standards.
Would you buy a used car from a member of Congress?
The answer, sadly, is probably not.
A new Gallup poll finds that only 10 percent of Americans rank the honesty and ethical standards of members of Congress as high or very high, while 54 percent give Congress low or very low marks for honesty and ethics.
That puts those elected officials right down there with car dealers: Only 8 percent of those polled gave car salespeople high marks for honest and ethical standards in the poll released Monday.
For Congress, there is a silver lining: They actually did better than last year, when only 7 percent of those polled gave them high marks for honest and ethics.
Still, both industries could apparently learn from the medical profession, and not just about how to properly give the Heimlich maneuver.
Nurses topped the Gallup list, with 85 percent of those polled giving nurses high marks for honesty and ethics. Pharmacists and doctors also got high praise in this area.
The Gallup poll of 1,015 U.S. adults, which was conducted in late November, had a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points. Respondents were asked to rank the honesty and ethical standards of people in 22 professions as anywhere from very high to very low.
Of course, politicians and used car dealers have been thrown together in a negative light for decades. In the 1970s, National Lampoon famously asked readers of Richard Nixon, "Would you buy a used war from this man?"
Other elected officials fared slightly better than members of Congress in the Gallup poll released Monday. Fourteen percent said members of the Senate had high or very high levels of honesty and ethics, while 45 percent said those elected officials' honesty and ethical standards were low or very low.
Twenty percent said state governors had high or very high standards for honesty and ethics.
Journalists did slightly better than that, with 24 percent giving the fourth estate high marks for honesty and ethics.
How does your profession rank? Check out the full list here.
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I have to laugh at the question of believablity in congress. Just think about the first time you went out on a date with someone new, or the second, third time, up until you got married. Were you really honest? We go through our whole life evaluating our relationships, yet we routinely keep re-electing our representatives regardless of the job they do, much to often because of their political affiliation. How often do you hear someone say they would NEVER vote Republican or Democrat, but be very happy to have a do nothing or crook represent them, just because they are of the correct party?
When your taxes go up on Jan 1, thank your Republican or TeaParty congressman. Blow the country and people's lives but don't bother the powerful and wealthy financial winning formula
Yhbua - it isn't just the Republicans - it's the DEMS, TOO. They are ALL corrupt liars! They tell the public how much they care about the people and this country, but just look at their actions. ALL of Congress is filled with nothing but millionaires. Most of them didn't start out that way. I'm truly convinced that the whole 'party' issue is nothing but smoke and mirrors - a way to keep the American bickering among themselves...while those degenerates continue to loot and destroy this country.
I don't trust Republicans. Whenever they talk about taxes they always say Democrats and their ever increasing taxes. Anyone who can read or remember knows that taxes are the lowest they have been as a % of GDP in 50 years. Yet people who listen to Repubs and Fox news insist that taxes are too high now. Why is that? Have they been brainwashed? Can they not remember what they have paid in taxes in the past? Before we retired we paid 35%, yet Romney who makes millions had to fore go some deductions in order to increase his tax rate to 14%. I think that is shameful. If you are a citizen of this country it is your duty to contribute a fair and affordable share to its functioning. Bet he's refiling to change it back to 9% as we speak.
Cuz if you believe in capitalism, you believe that resources should flow towards more productive uses. If you're a socialist, you believe resources should flow towards the failures. In the extreme, capitalism can exist without socialism but socialism cant exist with capitalism (soviet collapse). Even china figured this out before it completely collapsed.
What about real estate agents, I think they should be at the bottom like used car sales people
If you have ever listened to msnbc t.v....besides being way out to lunch..they are so biased it's sickening...fox news is definately leaning to the right but at least they have both sides views ....msnbc cannot be trusted...I'm sure I'm a racist now...only problem is ...I'm black...
I am a racist too, even though my wife and I sponsor an orphanage in Africa which feeds, clothes, and educates 67 African orphans. I can also tell you this-If we had a million Northern Europeans who were in the country illegally, I would tell them all to go home. You are either here legally or not. It is that simple.
MSNBC and fox both have honest news and news entertainment shows. The problem is that its harder to tell with MSNBC. At least fox's entertainment shows are so over-the-top its easy to tell its entertainment.
I think the low marks for Congress are totally bogus. The approval rating may be 8-10%, but many more of them get reelected than not. Everyone hates a faceless Congress, but everyone likes their own representatives. Moreover, they are rewarded with reelection for looting the Treasury if they bring home the bacon. The system is broke and we broke it.
The 10% applies to the 532 members that dont represent the surveyed person. They re-elect the other 3 as long as they're bringing their money back to them.
Debemgr...you can't raise enough taxes to cover all the gimmees from Obama...wait awhile and you'll see...higher taxes means higher prices on every consumer good...and we'll still be in terrible dept because the dems won't stop spending. You can't spend money you don't have...
mcdumbass, congress aproves spending. Who owns congress, thats right, the Rethuglicants!!!
DfromSpencer - the vulgar namecalling is totally uncalled for. Please post like an adult and refrain from obscenities and disrespect of other posters.
Remember obama admin's line about not wasting a crisis? Well, why not create more? FDR got reelected 4 times by dragging out the Great Depression for 10 yrs.
Actually, I trust car dealers far more than politicians in DC. I also have far more trust is some local politicians too.
What do you expect to get when you have inept, unqualified people being elected for President and Congressional offices? Weak candidate elections like Bush V Gore, Bush V Kerry, McCain V Obama. Then all the marital affairs, money laundering, back door lobbyists, union bribes...all kinds of trash that goes on in DC. And we wonder why we are in troubled times? Talk about a trickle down effect of the scum in DC!
No mere mortal can be expected to handle that much power. That's why you trust your locals more and that's the way the country was designed to operate. Political Scope has to be small enough to be handled and close enough to be watched.
Michelle Obama is trustworthy. Her hubbyas well but only 98.9 % of the time. He failed to fight for a single payer health system and caved in to Repuke's demands to extend the Bush tax cuts back in 2010
Buy from member of congress:
reasons:
1. they are most likely to not care about making money from the sale
2. they are most likely rich and must have been maintaining their cars to mint condition.
3. You will most likely get a steal deal - As luxury for you may not be a luxury for them. Or their feel of luxury would most likely to excite you more when you get a car from them that is luxury brand but fits your price target.
I believe we should have term limits of four terms for Senators and Congressman, jail time for insider trading and ethics violations, and remove lobbyists from government property. I think it's a start toward weeding out the people who get into the politics "game" to get rich instead of serve the people. Four terms is plenty of time to serve the people but not enough time to become a corrupt, powerful senator that trades votes for campaign contributions for their next election. Yes, and get rid of the superpacs. This is leading to the most corruption of all. Why should the average American have to suffer through two years of this negative campaigning financed by big business? They should ban ads from television and only be able to televise actual speeches by candidates.
Well, that about sums it up for our government, doesn't it? I've been around for 54 years, i've seen em come and go, they have all been dishonest with us! Once big money got involved, our elected officials gave up on us, and catered to the rich. It has not been "WE THE PEOPLE", for a very long time.
The entire system has become corrupt, and only "WE THE PEOPLE" can change it! A start would be to vote out all incombents. Pay them a salary commensurate with the days worked. No perks. No retirement bennies, no medical bennies, the whole nine yards. And most deffinately, NO LOBBYISTS!!! It would be a start.
All govt is structurally corrupt. It will always degenerate and oppress. That's why we have so many checks and balances. The founding fathers didnt even trust themselves with so much power. The world was shocked when GW didnt declare himself king. Back then, that's just how it was done.
Congress is, by far, the most unethical and non-trustworthy. All the others are only in my wallet if I let them.
In terms of who to trust:
Probably none - since both have their own MO and ulterior motives or hidden agenda.
Mark Twain:
"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."
- Mark Twain, a Biography
"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
I guess executive orders don't count as spending as long as a democrat does it...Obama may have gotten re-elected but that doesn't mean what he's doing is right..at least not to normal people who don't want the handouts at the cost of their fellow Americans...but if you get enough people who just don't care about this country to vote...I guess what he does is acceptable...oh that's right...abortions and gay rights are the only things that matter.....
Executive Orders: 140 for the President, 291 For Bush, 2001-2009, Executive Priviledge, the President 1, W, 6, go figure!
Put some prices on those EO's so we CAN figure.
I would not trust any member of the Obama administration further than I could throw them. Obama is not only untrustworhty, but he is EVIL !
Right behind that, I would put tehDemocratic leadership, and the media.
They are all out to destroy the constittution and our way of life.
Braindead Brian, take off the tinfoil hat, then remove yourself from mommies basement. The fresh air will do you good!
i agree with brian..
obama just let those people die in lybia.....
obama sucks
dont, I am sure the President said aw shucks, just let those folks die, sure he did. Do some research before regurgitating republican speak., the time-line is available, google it. Its Libya and Lybia
DfromSpencer - you seem to exhibit a pattern in your posts. Attack and insult anyone who you don't agree with. Pretty childish, isn't it? Either post intelligent remarks like an adult or don't bother booting up your computer.
all this polling info about honesty from a company that just got nailed for inflating their costs in order to charge the US gov't more money...
You know what's interesting about this discussion? Well, it's not the usual political ranting from the usual suspects. (snore)
Clergy has a pretty low ranking, considering it's a profession that's about ethics. And as gratified as I am that nurses always rank high, why are teachers not on the list, and why are college teachers teased out of the rest of the group?
The headline should be "less" not "least." There are only 2. Proofread.
The 24% for Media refers to their spelling and grammar score. ;)
you are right on Brian....the media doesn't even bother to go after this administration on the many screw ups they have been involved with...and now the liberals on this site will attack you for saying something they don't agree with...they know they can't win an argument on Obamas' policies...and I thought all those liberals were worried about their rights under Bush...they are really quiet even while our increased government size reaches into every aspect of our lives....the usual liberal double standard....
Good freaking Gawdd! Take off the tinfoil hat, dufuss! Whine much? Crying foul on one side is totally idiotic! They both do it, Obama won, get over it, already!!!!!!!
Just because he won the election doesn't make him a good leader. It also doesn't mean that we have to bow down and accept it. I will say though, that he's done just as much for the country as he did for Illinois.
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America 's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006~
Ironic much Barry? I assume you all have excuses prepared...
didnt hitler win also???
was he a great leader???
just askin
No. Hitler came in 2nd after Hindenburg in the presidential election. They failed twice to form an effective parliament so a bunch of businesses convinced Hindenburg to APPOINT hitler has chancellor of the parliament because they all feared the commies even more than the bar thugs. Next election was still at 43% so he had a coalition govt. He never got a majority until after he was firmly a dictator at which point "election" was a joke.
Obama made it very clear the difference between his plan and Romney's plan,a majority of American people chose which plan they wanted.Now Boner needs to get off his a$$ and give the people what they voted for.If not lets give Boner a democratic majority in 2014
No America did not, Who did was the un-educated / indoctrinated / dimwits / and the socialist/progressives.
I do hope you and everyone like you get what you asked for.
Yo Texas,in case you haven't heard,AMERICA re-elected Barack Obama by a majority of the people and a landslide in the electoral college.Time for all you teabaggin nut cases to realize the truth.
He was only running for pres, not dictator. Minority parties still have their rights.
obama was elected by welfare freaks and people who want someone else to pay the bills......not by educated adults !
BO-BOZO
Littleboy-numbers, just who the hell is Bo-Bozo,YOU????
If pro is the opposite of con, then what is the opposite of progress?
Who do we trust least? Anyone above dog catcher, and some of them are suspect!
For the People, by the People, of the People is dead thanks to a corrupt Congress that has taken far too many bribes by rich US Corporations to obtain obscene tax breaks and loopholes. That's the crux of the US problem for staying a viable country now and in the future. Rich Corporations complain they can't stay competitive unless they get the breaks and keep jobs here--then they get the breaks and hire overseas anyway--and hide profits overseas as well.