Broadside Blog

Thoughts on Public Service

I am more than positive that there have been and are many fine people that come into government because they feel they can do the most good there. I say this whether or not you are on the Left or Right. I honestly accept there are good persons that politics should not be part of why you respect them. However there are many, far to many, exceptions to the rule.

I am sure there are many out there that can recall persons that sought public office when they were certainly what I can only describe as “lower middle class” if you slot them by money. That’s fine as this certainly fits with Mr. Jefferson’s idea of who was really supposed to govern this country by the consent of the voters. So what can go wrong? How do so many of these persons come into office, local/state/federal, with little or no money and somehow leave with an estate far beyond the salary that was provided? I guess it can boil down to a simple statement my Dad used, that being “they knew where the new road was going to be built so they knew what land to buy”. It’s a very simple way of saying they become crooks. Again I attach this to both sides, left and right.

Think of people you know that are local and started out in politics without money and are now more than likely pretty well off. Any thoughts on how they did it?

Having said all of this I must restate that there are many, many fine persons who have devoted their life to public service. I respect them for that but they do not get the press, only the crooks seem to be of interest of the Forth Estate.

Sorry for the rambling, it 2:30 AM. Could not sleep.

posted by Jay @ 2:17 AM