House Speaker Mike Johnson said that members of Congress should be able to continue owning stocks.

He suggested that a stock trading ban could discourage people from running for office.

Earlier this year, Johnson expressed support for a ban, citing the “appearance of impropriety.”

  • DupaCycki@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    He suggested that a stock trading ban could discourage people from running for office.

    That’s precisely the point. If you need ‘encouragement’ in the form of millions of dollars in personal gain in order to be a government official - you’re not the right person for the job.

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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    1 day ago

    If someone is discouraged from running for office because it’s no longer a corrupt as fuck get rich scheme, good fucking riddance.

  • Typhoon@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    He suggested that a stock trading ban could discourage people from running for office.

    Good. The type of people who would be discouraged by this are exactly the people we want to keep out of power.

  • santa@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    Hard no. Govern for us and not for your purse. Represent the people — not yourself.

    If it discourages people running, that’s great. We don’t need them.

  • SabinStargem@lemmy.today
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    1 day ago

    People in positions of power, should be barred from stocks, have fixed and modest incomes attached to the poverty line, and other such fiscal limitations. It has been proven time and again, that the rich will do anything to become richer, no matter who else it hurts.

    And no, I am not going to believe people who say “this doesn’t reward merit”. That is a belief espoused by fools or grifters.

    The average income should allow the ordinary person to own a house, be free of debt, and enjoy life. Dickheads like Mike Johnson are far beyond what allows a person to be happy.

  • 0ops@piefed.zip
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    1 day ago

    He suggested that a stock trading ban could discourage people from running for office.

    People like you maybe. Hopefully.

    • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
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      21 hours ago

      A kickass healthcare plan, a lunch allowance, an office allowance, a good salary, no minimum work hour requirements, and a kickass pension not enough for you Mike?

  • Alwaysnownevernotme@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    Direct democracy solves this.

    Introduces a host a new problems sure.

    But fuck it our representatives aren’t riding to Congress in covered wagons anymore.

  • runiq@feddit.org
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    22 hours ago

    You apparently don’t even have a checking account, Mike. On these matters, I trust you as far as I can throw you. Which isn’t very far, by the way; I’m not that fit.

  • owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    If Carter was willing to give up his farm, you can muster up enough balls to stop trading stocks while you’re in office.

    And if it discourages people running for office, that seems like a feature, not a bug.

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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    20 hours ago

    Erm, owning stocks and actively trading them using insider information or being able to actively manipulate said stocks are not quite the same thing.