According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans consider car salesmen to be more honest and ethical than members of Congress. Only 8% of Americans said members of Congress have "high" or "very high" standards when it comes to honesty and ethics. Car salesmen got 9% in the same poll. Click through to see how Congress stacks up to other professions and some of our least favorite things.
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More popular than Congress —
Lawyers: This Gallup poll stings -- 20% of people rated lawyers highly ethical? Sorry, the poll doesn't ask why. (Photo from the film "My Cousin Vinny")
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More popular than Congress —
TV reporters: TV reporters, like the one played here by actress Courteney Cox in the movie "Scream," do much better than Congress in the poll, as 22% of Americans praised their ethics as being "high" or "very high." But that's nothing compared with nurses (82%) and grade-school teachers (70%).
Saving money: Gallup found that, by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, Americans would rather save their money than spend it. With 62% of people agreeing that they would rather forgo a nice dinner out or a new pair of shoes, Congress doesn't even come close to personal frugality.
Taxes:Nearly half of Americans -- 45% -- say the amount of income taxes they pay are "about right," not too high or too low, according to a Gallup poll.
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More popular than Congress —
Being uninsured: After the implementation of Obamacare, 28% of people would rather remain uninsured and pay a fine than purchase health insurance, according to Gallup. Remember when Congress had a 28% approval rating? We don't. But we know those were the days.
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More popular than Congress —
Cockroaches: Words spoken by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: "Congress is finishing this year less popular than a cockroach." A polling question actually asked people if they have a higher opinion of Congress or cockroaches. And people thought higher of cockroaches.
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More popular than Congress —
Not lobbyists: Lobbyists, like the one played here by actor Aaron Eckhart in the film "Thank You for Smoking," are actually less popular than Congress. In the Gallup poll, only 6% of people rated lobbyists as having "high" or "very high" standards when it comes to honesty and ethics. Lobbying is the career many lawmakers choose after retiring from Congress.