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Owning stocks isn't the problem, it's trading stocks on non-public information that is the issue

Well the holdings also create a conflict of interest in how they choose to vote.

If they had broad ETFs that had a whole bunch of companies (like VTI), then conceivably that wouldn't bias their vote as much. They'd have a personal reason to make sure that the entire stock market is doing well.

Even that still encourages them to prioritize corporations over individuals.

There's no actual reason a congressperson needs to own stocks. In fact, we should be doing what we can to enforce a certain "Average American"-ness to their lives so they work to improve the lives of the average american.

Maybe. I think it's not realistic to tell people that they cannot preserve their money into some sort of 401k (or equivalent). It's basically the only way to realistically retire in the US.

Fair, but you can own stocks in a blind trust

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