I have seen this kind of talk from people who make much more than this. Frankly, I don’t understand how tone deaf you have to be to say these things. It’s very clear that most Americans make much less than half of his salary. But to hear him  tell it, he’s working in a salt mine for pennies.

There is one line I hear most often and this is it from this article – I walked into this job 6 weeks ago..um that I worked incredibly hard for. There is always some version of it in the diatribe the person making large sums of money and it goes like this – “I work very hard for my money.” It has countless perambulations but it always boils down the same thing: “I work hard for my money and I deserve every penny of it.”And that would be okay, if it stopped right there, but it always has the implication usually directly stated “unlike you lazy freeloaders” or in this case, “unlike you lazy teachers, etc.”

I’ve seen it over and over again. These individuals making hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions, have it rough. That’s right. The world through their eyes is trying to tear them down. If you only knew the suffering they go through. My favorite suffering, heard not once but twice, is how difficult it is to get a good nanny. I almost cried for the poor guy.

They think they are some kind Randian heroes and if the world had to live without another half talented political doctrinaire hack, we would all cry and wonder what to do – finally begging them on our knees to only come back and we’ll be good boys, pay all their taxes and give them the love and respect their rich mummy forgot to lavish on them.

They bore me.

James Pilant

From ThinkProgress –

At a townhall meeting in Amery, Wisconsin last week, the “Real World’s” Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) exposed just how out of touch with ordinary Americans he is. According to progressive blog Rightguardia, one constituent — an underemployed construction worker — explained that his wife, a teacher, may have to take a cut in wages if Wisconsin’s draconian budget bill goes through. “I’m just wondering what your wage is and if you guys would be willing to take a cut,” he asked Duffy.

Displaying that delicate sense of empathy characteristic of conservatives, Duffy whined about his $174,000 congressional salary and his “used minivan.” When the man pointed out his salary was “three times what I make,” Duffy reassured him that “I have more debt than you.” “I’m not living high off the hog,” he added:

Constituent: But a hundred and seventy-four thousand, that’s three times — that’s three of my family’s — three times what I make.

Duffy: Well our budget…I moved to cut by 5 percent. I did. You know what, I have no problem..let’s have a movement afoot. I walked into this job 6 weeks ago..um that I worked incredibly hard for. And I can guarantee you or most of you, I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you.

With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I’m living high off the hog, I’ve got one paycheck. So I..I struggle to meet my bills right now. Would it be easier for me if I get more paychecks? Maybe, but at this point I’m not living high off the hog.