Dennis Kucinich doesn't need much

[Terwilliger]

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/347209611.html?did=347209611&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&desc=The+Nation%3b+A+Wealth+of+Presidential+Contenders

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:VqbwpHlXX6gJ:groups.yahoo.com/group/kucinich-election-news/message/44+kucinich+declared+income&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

<snip>

But there's also U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, the Ohio Democrat who brings
up the financial rear among the nine Democratic presidential hopefuls.

His wealth hovers somewhere between $2,000 and $32,000.

"Clearly, there is not much money to be made being of the people, by the
people and for the people," said Kucinich's press secretary, Doug Gordon.
<snip> ....MORE.....

I can't find any more about Dennis' income, but I haven't looked really hard.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

1. Whose wealth hovers between 2 and 32 grand

Bullshit.

And for the record: is being "poor" more moral than being "rich".

Or is that archetype, or weltanschauung "Christian"?

[Terwilliger]

2. oh?

Link?

[pruner]

3. if true, it's nothing to be bragging about

n/t

[Terwilliger]

4. as a public servant?

are you kidding? put down the bong!

[pruner]

5. plenty of people earn less than members of congress do…

yet have managed to amass wealth greater than DK has.

[Terwilliger]

6. maybe his priorities aren't as screwed up as those others

There's more to life than wealth, you know

[juajen]

8. You said it, Terwilliger

You never know, maybe he gives it away. I love that he is not a money grubber. GO DENNIS GO!!!!!

[Zorra]

9. yeah, wealth

is relative according to your values. Some people don't care about money, they have different priorities in their life, and may be wealthy in ways other than financially.

[Desertrose]

12. and do those who have amassed this wealth

...remember or have a clue what the rest of us who work our asses off and still are unable to "amass" that wealth live on? what its like to not be able to buy your own home or afford healthcare ??

I damn well like the idea of my president knowing how the largest percentage of the country lives..how we feel...what its like to always have to think about priorities before we spend our small amount of cash. I say good for Dennis...I think living within your means is something Americans have forgotten in the constant rush to materialism. I remember when I first got married - if we couldn't pay for it- we didn't get it! Our house was the biggest deal to go in debt for...

So don't give me the BS about wealth being the measure of a man.....cause it sure as hell ain't how I mesure a man.....there is sooo much more to people and living than that...and Dennis Kucinich knows it....I say good for Dennis Kucinich- IMHO he's setting a damn good example!

Peace
DR

[Tinoire]

16. Yeah... investing and the like you mean?

Creating an illusion of wealth where there isn't really any and pretending there is? Socking it hard to the poor everytime that illusion gets chipped away a little?

Gotta admire all those people who amassed greater wealth without earning it.

Sounds like you'd love a candidate whose priorities are getting rid of inheritance taxes and such! Who invest in corporations that rape and plunder the corporate world and then sit around wringing hands and wailing: "Why do they hate us?"

Or are you talking about white collar thieves? People who cheat on their income taxes? Swindle the poor? Gamble?

Just HOW do you amass great wealth without earning it? A good bookie?

[JohnKleeb]

11. and its nothing to be ashamed of too

[Tinoire]

15. Well let's put it this way

your rich candidates have already proven to be a bit out of touch for the most part.

I appreciate someone like Dennis because his understanding of the average man, the little man, enables him to support great "innovations" such as Single-payer Health Care. It helps him better appreciate the obscenity of wars for which mostly the poor are taken. Nope, your guys with the silver spoons have been showing too much appreciation and support for the corporations and not enough for the working class man who they only know as a text-book case.

The shoes gonna swap feet this time. And if it won't- don't count on my vote.

[no name no slogan]

21. Well, mine does; as does that of many other people.

My wife and I are 34 years old. I have a 100k mortgage, own a eight-year old car, lease another two-year-old car, my spouse and I work regular jobs, all our furniture is hand-me-down (except for the bed we bought when we got married seven years ago), and since we don't have kids we help take care of our fifteen nieces and nephews. I used a good portion of my "retirement" money to start up a small business a few years back, which has yet to pay for itself.

We're fortunate if we have over $200 in savings at any given time-- usually we live paycheck to paycheck just trying to make ends meet.

From what I can tell, this is how most of the country lives.

There was a discussion of class on this board yesterday, and many remarked how classist this board can be at times. Unfortunately, I think your comment adds to this. Just because you can't imagine it doesn't mean that there's not people who live it every day.

Believe it or not, not everybody here comes from money. We don't have parents who bail us out, or five-figure bank accounts, or new furniture in our new houses, or new cars every few years. I have yet to own a brand new car myself, but then again I don't measure my wealth by my material possessions either.

[ShimokitaJer]

22. In the words of Reb Tevya

It's no shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either.

[Terwilliger]

23. All I know are the lessons of history

The poor are always lauded, while the rich who try to hold on to their wealth are looked on with incredible scorn.

Now, I have no problem with an FDR type who did things with his money to help the poor (and came into office and helped them immeasurably) but I don't see any great social reformation coming from any of the other choices (except perhaps Sharpton and M-B)

[Mairead]

25. As Andrew Carnegie put it

'who dies rich, dies disgraced'.

(Carnegie went from being a poor teenaged immigrant from Scotland to being the owner of the largest private fortune in the US, which he then spent endowing thousands of public libraries --'universities for working people'-- in the US and Scotland. Over half of all the public libraries in the US exist because of that clortie auld scunner's belief that dying possessed of great wealth is a disgrace.)

[Rocinante]

7. Does he rent?

And lease cars? Maybe that makes some sense, otherwise where does his money go. Maybe gifts to charity, family, etc.
Edit.I should have left out the etc. Charity and family pretty much covers it.

[Terwilliger]

10. I applaud his choice

It makes sense, and it would be the kind of philosophy he represents.

[Mairead]

14. No, he owns a small house in the old neighborhood

and still pays on the mortgage, I believe. And I think he drives an older car.

[quaker bill]

13. Whether he were wealthy or poor

You would spin it as a positive. Being poor is not a virtue, nor is it a flaw.

[Terwilliger]

19. I would spin?

Somebody came into mythread talking about spinning....must be you!

I think it's great that a Congressman in these United States has wealth between 2 and 32K...that means he won't be up there trying to make money for himself, which is the MOST important part of being a trusted legislator.

[bleedingheart]

17. I don't care about personal wealth as much as I do about message

I want someone who will do what he/she says he/she will do.

[Terwilliger]

20. that's true of anyone

Is there a reason you think Dennis wouldn't?

[Mairead]

26. "I want someone who will do what he/she says he/she will do."

And that's something Dennis --alone among all the candidates-- has proven he will do even at the risk of his whole career. He doesn't sell out.

[sistersofmercy]

18. Dennis is an admirable man on a mission!

Certainly, money is never a measure of one's true worth. There are plenty of well to do folks who recognize this as well. Here in St Louis, we have a great deal of wealthy individuals who tirelessy donate money and time for fundraiser on a variety of social issues, children's foundations, AIDS foundations etc; our generous benefactors make it possible for children from all socio-economic backgrounds to delight in our first class zoo which is free to all.

Dennis is a truly amazing man regardless of what he does or does not possess in this conspicuous consumption material world.

[dpbrown]

24. I wouldn't care if Dennis was rich or poor

But I also know that his family moved 21 times when he was a child, and lived at least twice in the family car. He's one of seven children, and spent time in orphanages while his family fought to stay together.

He has it in his heart to help people, to give back, to empathize, and to understand. Not only are we ready for a man like Dennis to lead us, we need his spirit, his heart, and his vision to lead us out of the darkness the BFEE has brought down around us.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota