This has been floating around the net for a bit, but I think it sounds more than likely. Remember, these are the same jokers that decreed that the laws they write do not apply to themselves. My personal opinion of the Capitol Dwellers is not very high. Let me correct that statement; I think they are a bunch of incompetent and heinously corrupt thieves. No, that's not strong enough either. Those people are like 550 of the of the world's most evil third graders on crack, PCP and heroin, they are doling out the Date Rape drug to each and every American so they can pick our pockets clean while we're too clooless to stop them. This bit here is just an outrage, it's worse than today's professional athletes' paychecks, at least some of the athletes provide entertainment! NO WONDER so many of those spineless twerps advocate GUN CONTROL! Henry Update: Have a look at http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/pensions.htm "As of 1998, the average annuity for retired members of Congress was $50,616 for those who retired under CSRS and $46,908 for those who retired under FERS. Not bad, but not the highway robbery this piece makes it out to be." $50K per year for life is still a pretty sweet deal for a few years of acting like elementary school children. Bend over Americans... >>>>>>>>>>> 2004 Election Issue This must be an issue in "04". Please! Keep it going. SOCIAL SECURITY: (This is worth the read. It's short and to the point.) Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congress men & women do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it. You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this: When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each. Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. Nada. Zilch. This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds-our tax dollars at work! >From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into-every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) --we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000. monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits! Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ... then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it. If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. How many people can YOU send this to?