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Eighty-three percent (83%) of voters nationwide rate the U.S. Constitution as good or excellent, and there is little public support for changing the document.

However, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 44% believe the Constitution doesn't place enough restrictions on the government. Only 10% hold the opposite view and say the nation’s governing charter places too many restrictions on government. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say the balance is about right.

Ivytalk wrote:Hey, TTBF! How many of our 535 Congresspeople are lawyers?

And how many are tap dancers?

danefan wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:Hey, TTBF! How many of our 535 Congresspeople are lawyers?

And how many are tap dancers?

I actually don't think its as many as people think. The last ABA study indicated that roughly 36% of the 2006 Congress came from a legal background.

Given the fact that Congress is tasked with deciding on what should be law, you would think that people with an interest in law (e.g. lawyers) would be drawn to such a profession.

ASUGTO wrote:

danefan wrote:

I actually don't think its as many as people think. The last ABA study indicated that roughly 36% of the 2006 Congress came from a legal background.

Given the fact that Congress is tasked with deciding on what should be law, you would think that people with an interest in law (e.g. lawyers) would be drawn to such a profession.

Most of the good attorneys are in private practice where the $$ is better probably.
I may stand corrected on the # of attorneys, but I'll stand on my tapdancing assertion.

UNI88 wrote:

ASUGTO wrote:
Most of the good attorneys are in private practice where the $$ is better probably.
I may stand corrected on the # of attorneys, but I'll stand on my tapdancing assertion.

36% is still a lot! That's more than 1/3. What percentage of the working populace are lawyers?

I don't think $$ are the only reason that lawyers (and others) don't pursue public office. The amount of scrutiny and BS that an elected official has to put up with has to be a deterent to a large number of people who might otherwise be interested.

I understand while attorneys would be drawn to politics but have to ask if that is good for America. Are we better off with people who understand the legal system approving new laws (that are written by staff and special interest groups) or would we be better off with a Congress that is more representative of America as a whole determining what was needed and retaining lawyers to create the appropriate legislation?

danefan wrote:

UNI88 wrote:
36% is still a lot! That's more than 1/3. What percentage of the working populace are lawyers?

I don't think $$ are the only reason that lawyers (and others) don't pursue public office. The amount of scrutiny and BS that an elected official has to put up with has to be a deterent to a large number of people who might otherwise be interested.

I understand while attorneys would be drawn to politics but have to ask if that is good for America. Are we better off with people who understand the legal system approving new laws (that are written by staff and special interest groups) or would we be better off with a Congress that is more representative of America as a whole determining what was needed and retaining lawyers to create the appropriate legislation?

Good question.

Google tells me that there are about 1.2 million licensed lawyers in the US. That's about 750,000 too many, IMO.
Google also tells me that there are about 350,000 doctors in the US.

the 111th Congress: (elected in 06)

16 medical doctors (including a psychiatrist), two dentists, three nurses, two
veterinarians, a psychologist, an optometrist, a clinical dietician, and a
pharmacist;
• four ministers;
• 38 mayors, 13 state governors, ten lieutenant governors (including two
Delegates), two state first ladies (one of whom was also the first lady of the
United States), and one territorial first lady;
• three Cabinet secretaries, one Secretary of the Navy, a vice admiral in the Navy, a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a Defense Department counter terrorism
consultant, an ambassador, three state supreme court justices, and a federal judge;
• 269 (229 in the House, including two Delegates, and 40 in the Senate) state or
territorial legislators;7
• at least 112 congressional staffers (including 9 congressional pages),8 13 White
House staffers or fellows, and several executive branch employees;
• a parliamentary aide in the British House of Commons and a foreign service
officer;
• five Peace Corps volunteers;
• four sheriffs, a deputy sheriff, four police officers (including a Capitol
policeman), two state troopers, two probation officers, a volunteer fireman, an
FBI agent, and a former border patrol chief;
three physicists, one chemist, six engineers including a biomedical engineer, and
one microbiologist;
• a radio talk show host, a radio/television broadcaster, a radio broadcaster, a radio
newscaster, a television reporter, and a television commentator;
• five accountants;
• an astronaut, a naval aviator, the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group, an
instructor at West Point, and a pilot of Marine One (the President’s helicopter);
• two professional musicians, a semi-professional musician, a screenwriter, a
documentary film maker, a major league baseball player, and an NFL football
player;
• three organic farmers, three ranchers, two vintners, and a fruit orchard worker;
• a driving instructor, a cosmetic sales woman, a mountain guide, and a ski
instructor;
• a casino dealer, a night watchman, and a prison guard; and
• three carpenters, two bank tellers, a furniture salesman, an ironworker, an auto
worker, a clothing factory worker, a textile worker, an oil field worker, a
mortician, a coroner, a waitress, a teamster member/dairy worker, a paper mill
worker, a cement plant worker, a meat cutter, a shellfish specialist, a river boat
captain, a taxicab driver, an auctioneer, a toll booth collector, and a hotel clerk.

AZGrizFan wrote:

danefan wrote:
Good question.

Google tells me that there are about 1.2 million licensed lawyers in the US. That's about 750,000 too many, IMO.
Google also tells me that there are about 350,000 doctors in the US.

Nah. Those extra 750,000 are all bankruptcy attorneys.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

the 111th Congress: (elected in 06)

• 38 mayors, 13 state governors, ten lieutenant governors (including two
Delegates), two state first ladies (one of whom was also the first lady of the
United States), and one territorial first lady;
• three Cabinet secretaries, one Secretary of the Navy, a vice admiral in the Navy, a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a Defense Department counter terrorism
consultant, an ambassador, three state supreme court justices, and a federal judge;
• 269 (229 in the House, including two Delegates, and 40 in the Senate) state or
territorial legislators.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

the 111th Congress: (elected in 06)

16 medical doctors (including a psychiatrist), two dentists, three nurses, two
veterinarians, a psychologist, an optometrist, a clinical dietician, and a
pharmacist;
• four ministers;
• 38 mayors, 13 state governors, ten lieutenant governors (including two
Delegates), two state first ladies (one of whom was also the first lady of the
United States), and one territorial first lady;
• three Cabinet secretaries, one Secretary of the Navy, a vice admiral in the Navy, a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a Defense Department counter terrorism
consultant, an ambassador, three state supreme court justices, and a federal judge;
• 269 (229 in the House, including two Delegates, and 40 in the Senate) state or
territorial legislators;7
• at least 112 congressional staffers (including 9 congressional pages),8 13 White
House staffers or fellows, and several executive branch employees;
• a parliamentary aide in the British House of Commons and a foreign service
officer;
• five Peace Corps volunteers;
• four sheriffs, a deputy sheriff, four police officers (including a Capitol
policeman), two state troopers, two probation officers, a volunteer fireman, an
FBI agent, and a former border patrol chief;
three physicists, one chemist, six engineers including a biomedical engineer, and
one microbiologist;
• a radio talk show host, a radio/television broadcaster, a radio broadcaster, a radio
newscaster, a television reporter, and a television commentator;
• five accountants;
• an astronaut, a naval aviator, the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group, an
instructor at West Point, and a pilot of Marine One (the President’s helicopter);
• two professional musicians, a semi-professional musician, a screenwriter, a
documentary film maker, a major league baseball player, and an NFL football
player;
• three organic farmers, three ranchers, two vintners, and a fruit orchard worker;
• a driving instructor, a cosmetic sales woman, a mountain guide, and a ski
instructor;
• a casino dealer, a night watchman, and a prison guard; and
• three carpenters, two bank tellers, a furniture salesman, an ironworker, an auto
worker, a clothing factory worker, a textile worker, an oil field worker, a
mortician, a coroner, a waitress, a teamster member/dairy worker, a paper mill
worker, a cement plant worker, a meat cutter, a shellfish specialist, a river boat
captain, a taxicab driver, an auctioneer, a toll booth collector, and a hotel clerk.

I've worked for the West Point Instructor, Marine One Pilot, and the furniture salesman. i'm friends with one of the physicists.

UNI88 wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
I've worked for the West Point Instructor, Marine One Pilot, and the furniture salesman. i'm friends with one of the physicists.

Excluding the mayors, governors, legislators, cabinet members, staffers and peace corp volunteers the breakdown is roughly as follows:

Healthcare – 27
Religious – 4
Law Enforcement – 16
Scientists – 5
Engineers – 6
Entertainment – 11
Accounting – 5
Military (including NASA) - 5
Athletes - 2
Agriculture (farmers, ranchers, etc.) – 10
Teacher – 1
Security – 2
Construction – 4
Manufacturing – 5
Sales – 2
Service - 6
Miscellaneous – 10

Where are the teachers? Why aren’t there more engineers?

native wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:

Nah. Those extra 750,000 are all bankruptcy attorneys.

Bankruptcy lawyers who are no longer needed due to the exta-constitutional "solutions" provided by the Obama Administration, which in only five months has become the most corrupt political patronage administration in U.S. history.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

the 111th Congress: (elected in 06)

16 medical doctors (including a psychiatrist), two dentists, three nurses, two
veterinarians, a psychologist, an optometrist, a clinical dietician, and a
pharmacist;
• four ministers;
• 38 mayors, 13 state governors, ten lieutenant governors (including two
Delegates), two state first ladies (one of whom was also the first lady of the
United States), and one territorial first lady;
• three Cabinet secretaries, one Secretary of the Navy, a vice admiral in the Navy, a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a Defense Department counter terrorism
consultant, an ambassador, three state supreme court justices, and a federal judge;
• 269 (229 in the House, including two Delegates, and 40 in the Senate) state or
territorial legislators;7
• at least 112 congressional staffers (including 9 congressional pages),8 13 White
House staffers or fellows, and several executive branch employees;
• a parliamentary aide in the British House of Commons and a foreign service
officer;
• five Peace Corps volunteers;
• four sheriffs, a deputy sheriff, four police officers (including a Capitol
policeman), two state troopers, two probation officers, a volunteer fireman, an
FBI agent, and a former border patrol chief;
three physicists, one chemist, six engineers including a biomedical engineer, and
one microbiologist;
• a radio talk show host, a radio/television broadcaster, a radio broadcaster, a radio
newscaster, a television reporter, and a television commentator;
• five accountants;
• an astronaut, a naval aviator, the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group, an
instructor at West Point, and a pilot of Marine One (the President’s helicopter);
• two professional musicians, a semi-professional musician, a screenwriter, a
documentary film maker, a major league baseball player, and an NFL football
player;
• three organic farmers, three ranchers, two vintners, and a fruit orchard worker;
• a driving instructor, a cosmetic sales woman, a mountain guide, and a ski
instructor;
• a casino dealer, a night watchman, and a prison guard; and
• three carpenters, two bank tellers, a furniture salesman, an ironworker, an auto
worker, a clothing factory worker, a textile worker, an oil field worker, a
mortician, a coroner, a waitress, a teamster member/dairy worker, a paper mill
worker, a cement plant worker, a meat cutter, a shellfish specialist, a river boat
captain, a taxicab driver, an auctioneer, a toll booth collector, and a hotel clerk.

I've worked for the West Point Instructor, Marine One Pilot, and the furniture salesman. i'm friends with one of the physicists.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

the 111th Congress: (elected in 06)

16 medical doctors (including a psychiatrist), two dentists, three nurses, two
veterinarians, a psychologist, an optometrist, a clinical dietician, and a
pharmacist;
• four ministers;
• 38 mayors, 13 state governors, ten lieutenant governors (including two
Delegates), two state first ladies (one of whom was also the first lady of the
United States), and one territorial first lady;
• three Cabinet secretaries, one Secretary of the Navy, a vice admiral in the Navy, a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a Defense Department counter terrorism
consultant, an ambassador, three state supreme court justices, and a federal judge;
• 269 (229 in the House, including two Delegates, and 40 in the Senate) state or
territorial legislators;7
• at least 112 congressional staffers (including 9 congressional pages),8 13 White
House staffers or fellows, and several executive branch employees;
• a parliamentary aide in the British House of Commons and a foreign service
officer;
• five Peace Corps volunteers;
• four sheriffs, a deputy sheriff, four police officers (including a Capitol
policeman), two state troopers, two probation officers, a volunteer fireman, an
FBI agent, and a former border patrol chief;
three physicists, one chemist, six engineers including a biomedical engineer, and
one microbiologist;
• a radio talk show host, a radio/television broadcaster, a radio broadcaster, a radio
newscaster, a television reporter, and a television commentator;
• five accountants;
• an astronaut, a naval aviator, the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group, an
instructor at West Point, and a pilot of Marine One (the President’s helicopter);
• two professional musicians, a semi-professional musician, a screenwriter, a
documentary film maker, a major league baseball player, and an NFL football
player;
• three organic farmers, three ranchers, two vintners, and a fruit orchard worker;
• a driving instructor, a cosmetic sales woman, a mountain guide, and a ski
instructor;
• a casino dealer, a night watchman, and a prison guard; and
• three carpenters, two bank tellers, a furniture salesman, an ironworker, an auto
worker, a clothing factory worker, a textile worker, an oil field worker, a
mortician, a coroner, a waitress, a teamster member/dairy worker, a paper mill
worker, a cement plant worker, a meat cutter, a shellfish specialist, a river boat
captain, a taxicab driver, an auctioneer, a toll booth collector, and a hotel clerk.

I've worked for the West Point Instructor, Marine One Pilot, and the furniture salesman. i'm friends with one of the physicists.

Cap'n Cat wrote:We need more restrictions on over the top Conk **** like money-grubbing and their desired perpetuation of poverty. lleable, adjustable document meant to beThe Constie is a bendable, ma changed as situations warrant.
****' right, man.

CID1990 wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
I've worked for the West Point Instructor, Marine One Pilot, and the furniture salesman. i'm friends with one of the physicists.

No prostitutes?

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

UNI88 wrote:
Excluding the mayors, governors, legislators, cabinet members, staffers and peace corp volunteers the breakdown is roughly as follows:

Where are the teachers? Why aren’t there more engineers?

ever tried talking to an engineer???

the physicist i know isn't exactly a "people person" but he was known as "extremely outgoing" by their standards...

as for the teachers... they are well represented at the state legislative level... but few move up from there for various reasons... many continue to teach if they are in states where the legislature isn't full-time.

BlueHen86 wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
ever tried talking to an engineer???

the physicist i know isn't exactly a "people person" but he was known as "extremely outgoing" by their standards...

as for the teachers... they are well represented at the state legislative level... but few move up from there for various reasons... many continue to teach if they are in states where the legislature isn't full-time.

I'm an engineer - so f__k you.

I could never get elected, right or wrong, I would say what I think. The lemmings who vote only vote for the people who tell them what they want to hear.

BlueHen86 wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
ever tried talking to an engineer???

the physicist i know isn't exactly a "people person" but he was known as "extremely outgoing" by their standards...

as for the teachers... they are well represented at the state legislative level... but few move up from there for various reasons... many continue to teach if they are in states where the legislature isn't full-time.

I'm an engineer - so f__k you.

I could never get elected, right or wrong, I would say what I think. The lemmings who vote only vote for the people who tell them what they want to hear.

UNI88 wrote:

BlueHen86 wrote:
I'm an engineer - so f__k you.

I could never get elected, right or wrong, I would say what I think. The lemmings who vote only vote for the people who tell them what they want to hear.

My Dad was an engineer, three of my brothers are engineers. I was raised to be an engineer before rebelling and studying Poly Sci (because I found people infinitely more interesting than numbers) and going into management.

The bolded part is one of the reasons that we need more engineers and regular people in office. The typical engineer isn't as slick as a politican and some can miss the forest for the trees (focusing on problems without taking the time to see and understand the bigger picture) but they tend to like to make things better simply for the satisfaction of improving something rather than trying to find a way for their friends to profit in the transaction. The country could use a few more selfless & analytical problem solvers.

Spoiler: show

the extrovert looks at YOUR shoes when talking to you

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

UNI88 wrote:
My Dad was an engineer, three of my brothers are engineers. I was raised to be an engineer before rebelling and studying Poly Sci (because I found people infinitely more interesting than numbers) and going into management.

The bolded part is one of the reasons that we need more engineers and regular people in office. The typical engineer isn't as slick as a politican and some can miss the forest for the trees (focusing on problems without taking the time to see and understand the bigger picture) but they tend to like to make things better simply for the satisfaction of improving something rather than trying to find a way for their friends to profit in the transaction. The country could use a few more selfless & analytical problem solvers.

perhaps... but they tend to have limited range in terms of interpersonal skills as the joke below illustrates
how do you tell an extroverted engineer from an introverted one?

Spoiler: show

the extrovert looks at YOUR shoes when talking to you

at least at NDSU the engineers i met were largely deficient in one other resource you really, really need to be an effective elected leader at any level above say mayor of a small town... and that's empathy.