02-17-2017, 02:44 PM
I thought about posting thing in the 100 days thread, but I think this deserves a bit more discussion.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-familys-elaborate-lifestyle-a-logistical-nightmare--at-taxpayer-expense/2017/02/16/763cce8e-f2ce-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html?utm_term=.2675e8462df4
I remember there being a dust up when Obama would take an evening to go to NYC with Michelle, and I can remember other times in Obama's administration, and that of other presidents, where there were discussions about the costs of their vacations and trips. This has the addition of more children, adult children, that also garner protection because of their being potential targets and their travels causing increased costs. Plus there is the whole issue of Melania staying in NYC.
In the early days of the country, there was no budget for the POTUS, it was paid for out of their own pockets. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, these men came away from the office with bills to pay for their expenses. Jefferson, who was never a spendthrift, died buried in debt, and a lot of that was due to his time as president. I'm not suggesting we go back to that by any means, but it just feels like we are moving further and further away from thinking of the job as a job of service to the country with the lifestyle presidents have been living. Trump's is shocking to look at, but he is merely the latest in a line.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-familys-elaborate-lifestyle-a-logistical-nightmare--at-taxpayer-expense/2017/02/16/763cce8e-f2ce-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html?utm_term=.2675e8462df4
I remember there being a dust up when Obama would take an evening to go to NYC with Michelle, and I can remember other times in Obama's administration, and that of other presidents, where there were discussions about the costs of their vacations and trips. This has the addition of more children, adult children, that also garner protection because of their being potential targets and their travels causing increased costs. Plus there is the whole issue of Melania staying in NYC.
In the early days of the country, there was no budget for the POTUS, it was paid for out of their own pockets. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, these men came away from the office with bills to pay for their expenses. Jefferson, who was never a spendthrift, died buried in debt, and a lot of that was due to his time as president. I'm not suggesting we go back to that by any means, but it just feels like we are moving further and further away from thinking of the job as a job of service to the country with the lifestyle presidents have been living. Trump's is shocking to look at, but he is merely the latest in a line.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
