Here’s the deal: I want to see in my lifetime a politician who knows that there is a difference between doing the right thing and doing the thing that gets them response. I want to see a political leader who knows that political suicide over honesty, truth, dignity and trust is the best example that can be given to the young people of the country. You see, there is right and there is wrong. That’s it. Anything else we call B.S. no matter what fancy name others may have. And isn’t is called public SERVICE? It isn’t No Child Left Behind when it should have been called No Politician Left Behind. And exactly who is Racing to the Top? And where is the top? Is it Behind? 
“Ask not what your country can do for you,” Kennedy said, “but ask what you can do for your country.” The trouble is what people want to do to their country. People running for political office know that the machine is so firmly entrenched to work against them. So what to do? Defy it and fail in a campaign that will go nowhere? Stand tall and offer hope like candy falling from a truck, then know that the rest of the time will be a downhill run, banging your heads against hardened politicians who are more interested in keeping the mistress happy so the wife won’t find out? Whatever happened to those truth telling schmucks that we used to see long ago? You know the ones who give loans because it is better than what old Potter was doing?
So where does it stop? We live in a state where overpaid politicians can’t get a budget straight without taking from the counties and the cities beneath them. That’s not a job; that is incompetence and it has been going on for a very long time. So tell me why I should care whether the next governor is the CEO of eBay? Or Poizner? Or anyone else? Different names. Yawn….what will you promise me today? And yes, the citizenry have lost focus, flabbergasted by the maze of fine print to try and determine what is true and what is false. What is true? Who the heck knows anymore? It’s a little like history – the losers never get to write it even if the winners lie.
I wonder if anyone will respond to this challenge – me, a little guy, small business owner, writer, husband, father, blogger. I want to see if there is anyone who can stand up to the ideals of what was framed by The Constitution of the United States. I want to know that those values, carefully crafted to ensure some fairness and constancy still matter to the people who decide to run for office and leave the lower echelon of everyday life. Dammit – where is that idiot driver of mine.
I am tired of politicians who get caught in bribe scandals, or tapping feet under bathroom stalls, or doing any of the million things that ultimately get reported by the tabloid media. I am tired of the disappointment. I am disgusted by the ones who screw over their wives, have kids and then try to make it sound like they are the victims. It reads like a cesspool and nothing to take pride in.
Worse is the cultural mentality that they all do it so I should just accept it. I think that thought is far scarier than the corruption and greed. Apathy, the killer of all things good.
So here it is: if I am wrong, I challenge you to stand up and say so. I’m happy to research you, happy to ask questions, happy to be proved wrong – REALLY!
I even have a flashy ad for you below. You know how to find me!
MisterWriter
[UPDATE: I stand corrected about local politicians at the city level knowing a handful myself and getting to see their battles. Most, not all, do begin with the intent to make a difference. So why does that change? When does the political game become more important than the representation of the people? Politicians work for us. It is our taxes that pay the positions, and yet when you look at the politics going up the line, it seems to almost have a negative effect; we become the ones having to respond to the political choices. In short, we stop feeling represented and start feeling fiddled with. And lied to. This posting is directed at that level.]
3 comments:
Politicians at the most local level (City Council) are paid on the very low side. (around 1000 a month for cities in the 100K pop) If they do 25 hours a week then it is about 10 dollars an hour.
However the pay for the positions has no relationship to the cost to obtain them. A State Senate/Assembly race may cost 500K-1 million dollars. I believe their pay is in the 113K range. When you consider that the average income in Concord is $80K around is that so far out?
Even running for City Council is an expensive proposition that has no relationship to the pay of the position.
The appointed positions on a state level are a different situation.
In order to be able to stand up and 'do the right thing' you first must be elected. Additionally there needs to be some consensus in the electorate on that for the performance to be repeated, and the initial selection/vetting system operating on a method that allows for the survival of such candidates.
I recognize the cost to run a campaign which, in large part comes from having to out compete everyone else. Between endless television campaigns, each slamming the other, it becomes mind-numbing to the public. This is a county and state and federal level.
I also recognize that at a city level things are different, especially in smaller communities.
I would dispute that the average income in Concord is 80K, however.
I have a greater respect for the city level politicians who I know do spend an active amount of time involved in activities that tie up their day often in battles that they cannot win. Knowing more than a handful I will give you that at the city level I do believe that most politicians have a decent intent. Most.
With that in mind I am changing the title of this post to State and Federal Politicians for I believe that at that level things have become insane.
Edi, it should not be a major expense for a candidate to present to the public the position for which they stand. This is supposed to be a public service job where you/they choose to serve the public. It does, however seem to me that once elevated to a higher position, this notion changes, in large part to arrogance and however the change occurs, somewhere along the line the decency ends and the public become secondary to the position.
I apologize if my comment offended you - knowing you personally and what you stand for, I will adjust my stance in that regard. Thanks for pointing it out. I look forward to your campaign and do believe that you will be an advocate of public service.
I do not think that you comments were offensive. I understand and agree with much of the frustration.
Just pointing out local vs state and Federal.
Actually the stats on Concord's average and median income do vary based on where you go, just did a quick search on google and came up with numbers from 55K to 72 for median income with dates from 2006-2008. REmember also that many people use family income rather than individual.
Post a Comment