"CNN keeps count: More members decide to donate their shutdown paychecks," Carson Wright, 5th Period

Due to the U.S. government shutdown, more than 800,000 federal workers are being furloughed, losing their paychecks. Members of Congress, though, are still getting paid. However, some members of the House and Senate are "giving away their salary in solidarity."Currently, forty-three senators are donating to charity or to the Treasury Department, fifteen are not accepting their paychecks, four are undecided, and seven senators are accepting their paychecks. In the House, fifty-two representatives are donating to charity or the Treasury Department, eighty-one are not accepting their paychecks and three are undecided. The senators and House members keeping their salary are listed, identified by name and party, in the article. Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat, of Iowa, says that "as long as we're working, we ought to get paid." House Member Renee Ellmers, Republican, of North Carolina says, "I need my paycheck. That's the bottom line."

A child wants candy from a store. The child's parent refuses to buy the child candy. The child burns the candy shop to the ground and holds the candyman hostage.

This is depressingly ludicrous. Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas are literally holding the nation for ransom because they didn't want Obamacare to go into effect. Over 800,000 federal employees are now going without paychecks. Why? Because a few fools in D.C. pulled a reckless political stunt in a weak attempt to harm the president's image and healthcare legislation (the latter of which is much needed). Democratic Senator Harkin contends that they should continue to be paid as they are "coming to work." What of the policemen who responded to the woman who drove her car into the gate of the White House last week? What of the 800,000 citizens who, just as Republican House Member Ellmers "needs" her paycheck, need theirs? Still, it is good to see that some members of Congress have the common decency to recognize and respect the toils of many by taking up the burden thrust upon them by some of the folks of the GOP. The donation of paychecks--or downright refusal to accept them--by members of Congress is highly admirable and reflects the correct thing to do. Are they not government workers? Then let them go through what other government workers are being forced to go through.

This article is part of CNN's coverage on which members of the Senate and House are keeping their paychecks or doing the alternative. Indubitably, all this focus on Congressional monetary tomfoolery during the shutdown is an example of the media's bias for sensation and laziness, as it is but a small part of the shutdown dilemma. The primary issue at hand here concerns the many who are already beginning to feel the financial impact of this useless furlough. This article, published on the third day of the shutdown, is relevant because it details the actions of our elected officials in a time of consternation. You "need" your paycheck, House Member Ellmers? Yeah. You and the other 800,000.

The article: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/04/cnn-keeps-count-more-members-decide-to-donate-their-shutdown-paychecks/

Something else worth a look: http://www.upworthy.com/9-out-of-10-americans-are-completely-wrong-about-this-mind-blowing-fact-2?c=bl3