Politicians take vacations more often than taxpayers. They go to more exotic locations than taxpayers. They have these frequent and exoctic vacations at taxpayer expense. It’s a wonder that taxpayers don’t think politicians deserve this arrangement.
Americans repel when asked about the long summer vacations planned by President Obama and Congress. Their reaction: You don’t deserve it.
As Obama jets off to a sprawling oceanside resort home on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., this weekend, a week after Congress also went on recess, a new poll finds that Americans believe only they worked hard enough this year to get a break — but aren’t taking one.
A new Economist/YouGov.com poll found that just 9 percent of Americans believe Congress worked hard enough for a vacation. And only 40 percent said Obama deserves his 16-days on the Atlantic Ocean island.
“Vacations for public leaders are often a sensitive subject, and may be becoming even more so. Last year, Americans said on average a president deserves three weeks of vacation a year — that’s more than the average Americans worker. This year, Americans are loath to agree that Barack Obama has worked hard enough to deserve even one week of August vacation,” said the poll analysis.
The poll put on display the division in the nation over Obama’s performance as president, a time when international affairs are unraveling and the stalled economy still isn’t providing a lift to the long-time unemployed and younger Americans.