‘World's Poorest President' Explains Why We Should Kick Rich People Out Of Politics

[Generic Other]

People who like money too much ought to be kicked out of politics, Uruguayan President José Mujica told CNN en Español in an interview posted online last Wednesday.

“We invented this thing called representative democracy, where we say the majority is who decides,” Mujica said in the interview. “So it seems to me that we [heads of state] should live like the majority and not like the minority...I’m not against people who have money, who like money, who go crazy for money,” Mujica said. “But in politics we have to separate them. We have to run people who love money too much out of politics, they’re a danger in politics… People who love money should dedicate themselves to industry, to commerce, to multiply wealth. But politics is the struggle for the happiness of all.”

Asked why rich people make bad representatives of poor people, Mujica said: “They tend to view the world through their perspective, which is the perspective of money. Even when operating with good intentions, the perspective they have of the world, of life, of their decisions, is informed by wealth. If we live in a world where the majority is supposed to govern, we have to try to root our perspective in that of the majority, not the minority.”

http://occupywallstreet.net/story/%E2%80%98worlds-poorest-president-explains-why-we-should-kick-rich-people-out-politics


Maybe someday, a politician in this country is going to say this. But I am not holding my breath.

[L0oniX]

1. That will never happen. This is the USA.

[BrotherIvan]

8. pssssst Bernie Sanders

I'm willing to work for free and I know a bunch of creative people who would as well. A lot of us could give him as much value as millions in contributions. Not kidding.

[Octafish]

2. I'm so old, I remember when Democrats used to talk like that.

LOL.

[Scootaloo]

4. What was the war of 1812 like, exactly?

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I don't really remember much of it, myself.

I think I was drunk most of the time. And something about hemp.

Sorta like the 1960's, but it all blends together

[BrotherIvan]

7. I love you all

DUzys for everyone!

[SomethingFishy]

15. Seconded!

[Kalidurga]

3. Smartest man in the world explains how government should be..

This is very true. We have millions of people being locked up every year for crimes that would be overlooked if a rich guy or gal did them or a the most they get a slap on the hand.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Damn, I like that guy.

[DeSwiss]

9. Mr. President.

K&R

[ReRe]

12. That first paragraph....

.... reminds me of Buckminster Fuller.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. Have you made this an OP?

This is a great quote!

[Mnpaul]

10. He may be poor

but he was just offered a million dollars for his VW Beetle. A President that drives a Bug.
http://jalopnik.com/a-sheik-wants-to-buy-the-president-of-uruguays-vw-beetl-1655694226

[RufusTFirefly]

11. I doubt he's perfect, but he's still joined the short list of my personal heroes

"But politics is the struggle for the happiness of all.”

What a wonderful world it could be.

[ReRe]

13. We need to add that...

... to the First Amendment (separation of the rich and state) once we decide to devolve back into a democracy.

[SomethingFishy]

14. I wish I could rec this 100 times...

We need public campaign financing bad...

[Prophet 451]

16. But that would be, horrors, class warfare!

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Wow, would love to rec. this 1000x!

Every word is spot on, K&R!

[riderinthestorm]

19. K&R what an amazing human being nt

[Overseas]

20. K&R. He tells it like it is.