🏆“Every one of your elected officials has a self-serving reason for seeking office in the first place, and once engrossed in the job, will go to great lengths to maintain control over that office after elected.”
98% of politicians give the rest a bad name. And unfortunately the power that government wields (unconstitutionally) attracts many of the types of bullies, nannies, narcissists, and megalomaniacs of which the author writes.
There are some that are decent and uncorrupted, and most legislatures have at least one , but they are very much the exception.
Most politicians on the personal path to power give up their humanity and are driven by their ambition and as he astutely notes are willing to do anything to achieve their goals which are usually self-enrichment even if not in material wealth, but in ego, status, or legacy.
And the worst part is that he is very correct that even the ones with the best intentions will usually give up or get subjugated or decline in fidelity to principle over time.
Having worked in multiple legislatures as a lobbyist, run campaigns at all level of government, consulted for candidates across the country, and been an activist on multiple issues, I have seen many excellent candidates win an election and become co-opted the day after the primary (no joking).
I still maintain though that even though the federal government may be a lost cause, many state legislatures can be fertile ground for specific issues to advance the cause of liberty if one has the skill, knowledge, and capacity to do so.
What a great post, pensive and thoughtful, as per your usual high standards for publication. The blood analogy was brilliant, evocative and eloquent as it relates to the body.
As a kid, I wanted to be a prison warden (I know but in my defense, I was just a kid) since I figured I could make a difference by becoming one but I soon saw, as I grew older and began reading Ayn Rand that I would become corrupted by the very system I was attempting to reform. So I jettisoned that idea once I came to that realization based my extensive readings. So what was I to do?
Life happens…worked, raised three sons etc. etc. then retired so now I activate from the sidelines while attempting to hold these rascals (politicians) accountable for their actions, at the County level and those down at the Gold Dome.
One exception to the rule you line out above is our State Senator presently down at the Gold Dome (G. D.) without naming names. His voting record clearly demonstrates his commitment to We, the People. I have followed his career since way before he was elected and until he does something to the contrary, I would cautiously say he is a good guy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours and May you continue to do what you do since what you write is important, valuable, cogent and needs to be said.
Thank you for the kind words. In my castigation of politicians in general, I do not necessarily demonize every personal reason a candidate may seek office. One could have good personal reasons, which happen to align with doing a good job for those he or she represents. I did leave a small window open for that, writing, "Rest assured, anyone who would endure all he must to become elected, and do so over and over, suffering the slings and arrows of political campaigning, is a special breed of cat. He’s not enduring all that for you. Even Donald Trump does not endure all that he does, simply for you. Rest assured, Trump derives meaningful benefits, intrinsic in nature, to undertake the purposes he does, a special breed of cat for sure."
I do not expect, nor do I want my representative to only work for my interests. I hope to vote for a representative whose own personal reasons for seeking office happen to align with my view of things, knowing that in the end, he or she will not be voting to protect my interests as much as his or her own. We just happen to have the same or similar interests.
Every individual comprising the Georgia General Assembly has his or her own personal reasons for suffering the slings and arrows of campaigning. And those reasons are intrinsic to them. I love Trump, but I also realize he gets something beyond achieving a state of martyrdom or or pure altruism, which also does not necessarily mean monetary enrichment, thankfully, which motivates him. I do not want an individual unconcerned with his or her own personal interests to represent me. But I also do not want an individual, who as is the case many times, is ONLY concerned with his or her own personal interests, including enrichment, to represent me in the government. The person to whom you refer has personal reasons for seeking public office. My warning to anyone in that category is to remain introspective enough, and aware enough, to realize when events and circumstances lead one's self toward that door, which when opened can not be sealed.
Am in agreeance with you on the “alignment” issue and in the specific case of this individual elected official I mention, I do believe or I do discern that he is truly in alignment with my ideals based on discussions I have had with him over the years but I could be wrong, as always.
Onwards, through the fog, as Oat Willie sez and
Hank:
Keep on rockin’ in free world, as Neil Young wrote or what’s left of it I will add.
Keep hammering Hank. You are greatly appreciated. Well said. Trivia question... How long do you think the big banks will continue allowing this administration to keep them on the side lines? I'm specifically talking about mortgage interest rates that Joe and Mary Ordinary can not afford.
If there is but one takeaway you get from this excellent post, it is that politicians must be kept in check by the fear they may lose the position they treasure above all else.
Georgia's State House is a just a smaller version of Congress. A practice/learning place to move on for more corruption and MONEY
🏆“Every one of your elected officials has a self-serving reason for seeking office in the first place, and once engrossed in the job, will go to great lengths to maintain control over that office after elected.”
La verdad
This is an excellent piece.
98% of politicians give the rest a bad name. And unfortunately the power that government wields (unconstitutionally) attracts many of the types of bullies, nannies, narcissists, and megalomaniacs of which the author writes.
There are some that are decent and uncorrupted, and most legislatures have at least one , but they are very much the exception.
Most politicians on the personal path to power give up their humanity and are driven by their ambition and as he astutely notes are willing to do anything to achieve their goals which are usually self-enrichment even if not in material wealth, but in ego, status, or legacy.
And the worst part is that he is very correct that even the ones with the best intentions will usually give up or get subjugated or decline in fidelity to principle over time.
Having worked in multiple legislatures as a lobbyist, run campaigns at all level of government, consulted for candidates across the country, and been an activist on multiple issues, I have seen many excellent candidates win an election and become co-opted the day after the primary (no joking).
I still maintain though that even though the federal government may be a lost cause, many state legislatures can be fertile ground for specific issues to advance the cause of liberty if one has the skill, knowledge, and capacity to do so.
Thank you, Matt, for such a thoughtful, discerning comment.
Good Gravy, Hank!
What a great post, pensive and thoughtful, as per your usual high standards for publication. The blood analogy was brilliant, evocative and eloquent as it relates to the body.
As a kid, I wanted to be a prison warden (I know but in my defense, I was just a kid) since I figured I could make a difference by becoming one but I soon saw, as I grew older and began reading Ayn Rand that I would become corrupted by the very system I was attempting to reform. So I jettisoned that idea once I came to that realization based my extensive readings. So what was I to do?
Life happens…worked, raised three sons etc. etc. then retired so now I activate from the sidelines while attempting to hold these rascals (politicians) accountable for their actions, at the County level and those down at the Gold Dome.
One exception to the rule you line out above is our State Senator presently down at the Gold Dome (G. D.) without naming names. His voting record clearly demonstrates his commitment to We, the People. I have followed his career since way before he was elected and until he does something to the contrary, I would cautiously say he is a good guy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours and May you continue to do what you do since what you write is important, valuable, cogent and needs to be said.
Full stop.
Thank you for the kind words. In my castigation of politicians in general, I do not necessarily demonize every personal reason a candidate may seek office. One could have good personal reasons, which happen to align with doing a good job for those he or she represents. I did leave a small window open for that, writing, "Rest assured, anyone who would endure all he must to become elected, and do so over and over, suffering the slings and arrows of political campaigning, is a special breed of cat. He’s not enduring all that for you. Even Donald Trump does not endure all that he does, simply for you. Rest assured, Trump derives meaningful benefits, intrinsic in nature, to undertake the purposes he does, a special breed of cat for sure."
I do not expect, nor do I want my representative to only work for my interests. I hope to vote for a representative whose own personal reasons for seeking office happen to align with my view of things, knowing that in the end, he or she will not be voting to protect my interests as much as his or her own. We just happen to have the same or similar interests.
Every individual comprising the Georgia General Assembly has his or her own personal reasons for suffering the slings and arrows of campaigning. And those reasons are intrinsic to them. I love Trump, but I also realize he gets something beyond achieving a state of martyrdom or or pure altruism, which also does not necessarily mean monetary enrichment, thankfully, which motivates him. I do not want an individual unconcerned with his or her own personal interests to represent me. But I also do not want an individual, who as is the case many times, is ONLY concerned with his or her own personal interests, including enrichment, to represent me in the government. The person to whom you refer has personal reasons for seeking public office. My warning to anyone in that category is to remain introspective enough, and aware enough, to realize when events and circumstances lead one's self toward that door, which when opened can not be sealed.
Thanks again for the kind comments.
Hank:
Am in agreeance with you on the “alignment” issue and in the specific case of this individual elected official I mention, I do believe or I do discern that he is truly in alignment with my ideals based on discussions I have had with him over the years but I could be wrong, as always.
Onwards, through the fog, as Oat Willie sez and
Hank:
Keep on rockin’ in free world, as Neil Young wrote or what’s left of it I will add.
Keep hammering Hank. You are greatly appreciated. Well said. Trivia question... How long do you think the big banks will continue allowing this administration to keep them on the side lines? I'm specifically talking about mortgage interest rates that Joe and Mary Ordinary can not afford.
If there is but one takeaway you get from this excellent post, it is that politicians must be kept in check by the fear they may lose the position they treasure above all else.
Great post Hank!