At work today one individual was complaining that Congress is still being paid during the government shutdown and also gets retirement benefits after only one term. Various complaints like this circle Facebook and new agencies from time to time. Here is Huffington Post. And here is a popular meme:

People just do not understand the fact that politicians are not in their job for the money. The average net wealth of members of Congress is over 5 million dollars. They really not care about their congressional salaries or retirements. What they care about is power, something much more dangerous.

What this should teach any observer is that humans have different value systems. Some people strongly favor power. Some people strongly value money. Some people value leisure. Those in congress could retire right now and life comfortably for the rest of their lives. But they instead choose to be in front of cameras, running the lives of millions of people whom they have never met.