Buying a seat is getting expensive

I speak only English. I always thought that “oblesse oblige” was a French porn star with a fancy name, sort of like Stormy. I checked the Dirty Academy Awards, and Noblesse wasn’t there. Undaunted, I looked further. I learned that it wasn’t a name, but a gift. According to the dictionary, it means “inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged.” I think “millionaire” is where more privileged starts. Especially since less privileged household median income here is about $71,000 a year, and probably without savings.

There are 22 million millionaires in the U.S.

If you are eager to meet one, stand outside the Senate or House chambers in our nation’s capital. Half the House are millionaires. Until recently in the Senate, Rick Scott was top dog with an estimated worth of $260 million, but a former appointed Sen., Kelly Loefller of Georgia, has over $500 million. Democrat Mark Warner rivaled Scott and put $64 million of his money into the Senate campaign he won.

Some Members start rich, some get rich. Here is a news story on increased wealth, “Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) was worth less than six figures in 2008. One decade later her estimated net worth sat at $7.1 million. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) increased his wealth from $602,000 to $10.7 million over the last decade. “

Our own poor boy who made good is Chuck Grassley. In an interesting example of hopes fulfilled, he started as a small farmer and sheet metal worker before he went to Washington. He’s now worth about $9 million.

Congressional generosity, a kind of noblesse, is with public money and I’m glad some are willing to act with a bit of generosity, if not always nobility. But not all rich do and that is what worries me. It may get worse. The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee is looking for candidates who can “self-finance.” That means people who have been accumulating fortunes will be in Congress after being able to provide $20. $30, $40 million for their own campaigns. To accumulate that kind of money, you don’t ordinarily spend much time at P.TA. meetings or in church basements feeding the hungry.

George Washington and other Founding Fathers were wealthy. Recently, our presidents, including Carter, Clinton, and Obama were or became millionaires.

Some members of the Congress who have accumulated a personal fortune may also support social programs that make life better for non-millionaires, but too many would set out to abolish Social Security as it is. Some would kill Medicare. Social Security would be “privatized,” whatever that means. Health care would be a box of tissues and “gesundheit.”

Do I care if the Senate turns into the House of Lords? I’m struggling between “yes” and “absolutely.” Not all rich understand “noblesse oblige,” and we really don’t need more who believe “cut taxes” is part of their oath of office.

Some rich overcome the burden of wealth and maintain concern for the middle class and the less privileged. If we must have Republicans, let us hope for the best, and not the self-financed.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary.