Posted on 12/11/2008 1:17:49 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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.
Now most state legislators, no matter how green, are approached from the start of their terms by genuflecting lobbyists, business leaders and civic groups. These legislators understand that their new jobs are essentially year-round ones. Committee meetings, special sessions and the like are essentially gimmickry to keep elected officials in their respective capital cities as often as possible.
How do these people make a living? There's the hitch. Some are independently wealthy. Some own companies they don't run. Others have understanding bosses. But in way too many cases, elected officials are drawn to elective or appointed office for the power and prestige. Only later do they realize they've got no way to pay for the necessities of life, much less for the conspicuous consumption they continually see as part of the world of elected officials.
This explains why someone as powerful as Illinois Governor Rod "They Owe Me" Blagojevich can feel that his salary just isn't enough, and that maybe he and his wife should be paid handsomely so that some lucky person can replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Please know that there are countless decent and hardworking people holding elected office in America. But their numbers are dwindling. Too many talented people work in the private sector instead of the public one. It's simply about economic security.
Too many people are attracted to elective office to satisfy their own egos. They're willing to sacrifice family and personal economic responsibility so that they can regularly get their rear ends kissed. It's sad, but it's true. Believe me.
Some states have gotten smart. Florida has a total ban on gifts and gratuities to its elected officials. That helps. But efforts like these don't eliminate the arrogance and sense of entitlement that make some part-time public officials feel entitled to honor and tribute at every turn.
Things have just gotten out of control, folks. Now, in many states, an election for a legislative position that pays under $20,000 can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to win. That's appalling and absurd.
I've spent my entire adult life either around elected officials or, for several years, as one myself. I've watched as what was meant to be temporary public service turned into unending self-service. I can't tell you how many elected officials now expect the finest meals, tickets to prestigious events and so on. Some completely neglect their families, both financially and emotionally.
Something must be done to make public service a reality and not just a campaign slogan. Either let's pay these people what it takes to attract the kind of talent really good leadership demands; or let's put more limitations on their power. Otherwise, the Illinois governor may be the vanguard of a long train of public service felons to come in the years ahead.
It’s all about money and Power!
yes.... We’ve lost our collective moral compass. The child born in that manger has been slowly kicked out of this country. I’m not sure, short of
miracle whether we can survive. That’s my comment .... And I’m sticking to it...
“Something must be done to make public service a reality and not just a campaign slogan. Either let’s pay these people what it takes to attract the kind of talent really good leadership demands”
That didn’t work with Bear stearns, or the other fools on wall street. More money doesn’t mean more talent.
Term limits 8 to 10 years max and then get someone new.
A corrupted electorate is in fact the real problem here. Politicians are re-elected despite being dirty and those voting often simply don’t care.
If anything can go wrong, it can be attributed to (PMS) ...Power, Money or Sex ... !
Politicians are re-elected despite being dirty and those voting often simply don’t care.
...and that’s the bottom line.
“Hello,” lied the politician.
Stealing is illegal:
The government hates competition.
ANONYMOUS
Bloggo did mess up, to be certain, however, even a guy like myself would try to cap, Bloggo should have been non partizan. And I realize I may take some heat for my opinion, but, if I challange those folk that would give me that said same choice, this is my question:
Vacant seat: check!
Fill vacant seat: check!
Um, (and this is where Bloggo messed up) so what do I get out of it?
Um, what ever happened to serving the public interest?
I’m from Illinois, I’m glad I need not go there anymore.
JAIL for Blogoyovich, Just because he is dumb.
Yes, where are these decent and hardworking elected officials? The only one I can see is Sarah Palin.
Any time one makes a living off of the Gov’t, or more directly, the Taxpayer this is what you get: ROTTEN to the Core. I’ve worked for state Gov’t and have seen a lot of it. For the most part, they are all dirt bags.
....”there is a growing sense of entitlement among more and more elected officials.”
Seems to me that feelings of entitlement wouldn’t have the chance to ‘grow’ if there were term limits.
More than the probation department needs “fixed!” I have said repeatedly there needs to be a Federal Investigation into the ENTIRE judicial system is Durham. I again, am going on record to protest the corruption to conceal my brother’s murder not just being ignored, but deliberately consealed! Saacks, Sheriff Hill, Dr Butts, the FBI, SBI, DPD, and many other officials KNOWS the truth, and here we are nearly 4 years later, STILL being lied to and ignored! WHERE is the outrage?! I am seeking legal help, as the city REFUSES to comply, along with Gov Easley, and am fully prepared to go to the Supreme Court until there is JUSTICE for my family, and other families who still pray for TRUTH!
Rhonda Fleming
Justice4Jack
Justice4All2005@yahoo.com
Sister Of Allen Jackson Croft Jr
106 Carlion Court
Durham, 27713
Murdered May 11, 2005
.....”Either let’s pay these people what it takes to attract the kind of talent really good leadership demands; or let’s put more limitations on their power.”
Why not both? And as I said above...also need term limits so as not to allow that sense of entitlement to grow. There must be a way to take the focus off themselves, to limit the amount of time lobbyists and business leaders have to try and influence, and by limiting the perks too, perhaps would put the focus of our officials back where it should be, on SERVING the American people.
That says it all. Bow to me you lesser fools. Their arrogance is beyond the pale. The chosen one needs his ass kissed numerous times a day too.
Why not reduce the size and scope of government radically, so that venal people aren’t attracted to the remaining positions of non-power?
Absolutely agree- government is like a fire, being fed by tax money, and power.
Starve the damn fuel supply. We got along fine for about 150 years without the government poking its nose in every nook & cranny of day to day living.
Starve the beast.
The first suggestion is NOT the way to go.
“Why not reduce the size and scope of government radically, so that venal people aren’t attracted to the remaining positions of non-power?”
>>>>>..................
how you gonna do that? vote for GOP get big gov.
vote for Dems get bigger gov.
We need a new political party that understands the basis of conservative thought: limited government.
The first thing we need to raise the awareness of these problems is a MSM that actually investigates and reports rather than conspiring with the perps to continue the game.
Right now, the only source for news on most of this is via the internet and the general public only gets GMA and Ophra.
It’s about the ignorance too the American people.
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