Isn't the usual career path for "retired" politicians to hire out as lobbyists for special interest groups at around $250K/yr or more, which adds to their gov retirement pay, thus hastening the breakdown of our Republic?
I hope MJ doesn't continue down that path.
But, he's not that old, and he could have easily won another 6 year term. So, the question is, "Why did he quit?".
With a Congressional work schedule that requires less than 150 days per year "in Washington", and counts the days traveling to and from Washington as "being in" Washington:
it would appear to me that he had plenty of time to "be with his family". Americans who are fortunate to hold a full time job have to put in 2080 hours/yr on the job, and they are lucky if they get two weeks of paid vacation per year. Those with part-time jobs have to work more than 2080 hrs per year to make a living because they have to commute to work twice as much, or more, as those who hold only one job. It is not unusual for someone holding two 20/hr/week job having to spend an hour or two each day commuting from home to the job ... to home or the other job, and to home again. And with no bennies.
99% of Americans do not have a staff that takes calls, opens letters, writes position papers, and mails out carbon copy replies to questions from constituents, with franking privileges. They aren't invited to free dinners (usually fund raisers) where they can be praised for working so little, and they can't take those "campaign donations", I call them bribes, and put them into their "campaign war chest", which can be converted to personal private funds when they retire.
There is something more behind his sudden retirement than what we are being told. Is he frustrated with trying to change Washington from within? Threats on his or his family's character or life? Was he conning us all along just to get a free ride for the last 20-30 years of his life?
