Towery: Why More And More Politicians Are Rotten To The Core

[Terri]

By Matt Towery
December 11, 2008

That the governor of Illinois would attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat didn't shock me. Across America, there is a growing sense of entitlement among more and more elected officials. Not all, of course, but too many.

From city councils to Congress, elected positions have evolved from their intended part-time status to full-time obsessions. And as governments have grown, so have their access to big money. Political leaders now hold life-and-death fiscal power over people and businesses.

Most states' legislatures were designed to be part-time, citizens' deliberative bodies. The harvest schedules of old agrarian societies were a reason. So were comparatively modest government budgets.

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[Jamble]

There is another reason why politicians are so arrogant--incumbents are seldom voted out of office. There are several reasons why voters keep re-electing these charlatans:

1. Many voters do not pay attention and believe sound bites, rumors and anything the newsmedia feeds them. Example: most people ascribe to the man-made global warming theory which is now doubted or refuted by the majority of scientists.

2. Voters don't care how corrupt a politician is as long as he/she brings home the pork (ex: Jack Murtha who insulted his constituents but won anyway.)

3. Many refuse to think about the issues. They base their vote on emotion, whether they think the Government "cares" about them.

If the public would only re-elect pols who are more dedicated to the country than to themselves, our great nation may survive.

[thomas]

I am not sure who said it but - power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It was true when stated and remains true today and the news of the day provides all the support one needs. Term and service limits might do the trick except the foxes guarding the henhouse would refuse to limit their own power. Talk about a catch 22
The Old Chief

[RW]

They are also able to literally buy blocks of votes, by promising lucrative contracts or political plum jobs. They also are looking to the day when they can leave office, for any reason, and get a job, either as a lobbyist or consultant with a major company. Their gubbmint pensions for life, after a term or two will support them quite well, and with a fat job as either a lobbyist or consultant, their gubbmint pensions are pure gravy.

[STEELMAN]

Political leaders now hold life-and-death fiscal power over people and businesses.

This is the point where government of, for, and by the people, has vanished and takes on the appearance communistic tryranny.

I have often stated that those who serve in our government, regardless at what level, are our "servants" not our "slavemasters!"

A point they have conveniently dismissed and look at it as an obstacle in their path to power.

[gmpawlik]

only one thing will stop this TERM LIMITS

[welder4]

More an more get on the Mafia band wagon and get what is gettable while they can do it , they are getting caught and that is good but what would be better if these jerks were to spend many years sitting in a cell and not some high priced executive prison but the real hard core prison and that may deter some of these crooks to stop and start doing what they are supposed to be doing and that is represent the people . Absolute power corrupts absolutely is a saying that is showing the results of that today . we need to hold these people accountable and make them pay the price for breaking the law .

[loumol]

That is why a grass roots effort to establish term limits in Congress is necessary. Send an email to all your friends to email theirs to start the ball rolling

[NRoot]

I coined a phrase some years ago which has now infiltrated the politicians. It's the "SOITM (Soy-T'm) Syndrome." "Society Owes It To Me!" It used to be just found in the "masses." Society "owes" me a living wage; society "owes" me free health care; society "owes" me a free abortion on demand; society "owes" me a college education, etc, etc. Now it has gotten to the politicians. Society "Owes" me the Senate Seat; society "Owes" me the Governorship; society "owes" me the Presidency; society "Owes" me life-time health Insurance and retirement benefits for just four or six years of "attendence."

Our politicianslhave taken this country into Socialism and it is a cancer that is destroying this once great country, as it has destroyed so many before us. History does repeat itself and too many in this country are too ignorant to see it happening.

[MrJLDoug]

There are politicians and Governors like Rod "They Owe Me" Blagojevich and then there are Governors Like Sarah Palin.
Now to any Liberals or trolls lurking on this site, you now know why we Conservatives loved our Sarah.