Let's be honest here. Are we as a people best served by career politicians?

Question

If you look at Mt. Rushmore, can you pick out the career politician? You probably can't because Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln all had careers that they left to briefly serve the people. It wasn't too long ago that the ideal for politics was to have a business, build it then leave that company for a couple of years while you served as Congressman or Senator and then return. That was because who better than a farmer would know what a farm bill would impact? Who better than a beat cop could tell you why a crime needs to be punished with 5 years?

With the rise of the career politician, suddenly government became insulated. You also start seeing people using their position more for political gain. You see bribery scandals from both parties. You see sex scandals from both parties. And the one universal fact is that the people abusing power are career politicians.

So my question: Are we as a country best served by person who is a career politician?

LadyMoonlight: I see it's the same for you across the pond.

political advisor2:

While it's possible that you can get some really good people in office, it's not a universal thing we all enjoy.

Truthseeker
Posting the same long piece of elephant feces on every question gets boring. Please go away.

Derek M
I might have answered it myself but it's something that has been bugging me all day so I brought it here.

Atavacron:
Good point

Answer 1

In the UK we had Tony Blair. Avaricious self serving little shite.

In the past we had the likes of the great Socialist Aneurin Bevan who got into politics because he cared for the working man and wanted to make his lot a better one. Sadly Bevan's ilk are no more.

These days Tony B and his cronies are just out to make money and look after number 1. Its wrong.

Answer 2

Great subject! I think we should have term limits for all elected officials.Senators and Representatives should be allowed 2 terms.Let some new blood in and help stop the pork.Certain ones have been in there for so long it's ridiculous.Sen. Byrd from West Virginia is the king of pork and when he speaks it's like a joke.Sen. Ted Kennedy should have been put in prison for Mary Jo Kopeckne's murder.I'm sure there are others that are just as corrupt.While we're at it,we need to get the retirement system for these Sen. & Rep. changed.They have their own private plan that gives them 100% of their working salary after retiring and this applies even if they only serve one term.They should be forced to contribute to Social security and get their retirement just like the rest of us.I realize that it would take a concerted effort by many Americans to get this done,but I feel that we are sending our great country "down the tubes".,unless we get busy soon.

Answer 3

I really think this country has lost track of its goals. We used to be focused toward a common goal. Now, the people who represent us do what suits them, and the common people are just going along with their lives playing ignorance... hiding under a rock. We should have term limits for every office. One term, and you're done. So, let's say you get elected as Governor. That's 4 years in most cases. The US Senate... 6 years, and you run for and win the Presidency.. 4 years. 14 years as a politician. That's it. Now, that's just an example, but can you really say that after 14 years of politics, you really have the constituent's best interests at heart?

Answer 4

You are correct. The whole point of the 2 year House term and 6 year Senate term was that some would be in DC for 2 years and some 6, I doubt then figured there would be people like Robert Byrd (D) and Strom Thurmon (R). I think that if you spend 20 years with everyone doing your bidding, you want more and to protect you privileges, you will do anything, including things that are bad for the nation.

Hey Truth Seeker, do you think it's very smart of you to highlight a mispelled word when you are trying to show how much SMATER [sic] you are than the rest of us?

Answer 5

Politicians today are like on care welfare. Their retirement package is better than ANY of the private or government sectors. For the most part they come from the legal profession & write the laws to guarantee they will be able to find employment if they are ever voted out of office.

The main reason everyone keeps revoting them in is senority not wisdom or talent acquires POWER in government or a union.

Answer 6

I'm all for term limits.....BUT this country's and globe's problems are too complex to have fresh faces in, every single term.

But, should it be a lifetime gig? No.

I MIGHT feel differently about that if I KNEW our electorate was an informed one. If they really knew the problems, really knew what their guy was doing up there.

But they're, on the whole, NOT informed on anything except silly hot-button issues that make for really good commerical material. Too often they vote for Smith and Jones just because they remember the names.

Answer 7

People tend to establish a viewpoint on "things" and during their lifetime, they tend to revolve around that viewpoint, and become fixed.
Our government is a living thing and as such it needs to be refreshed periodically so that it stays in tune with the times.

"Fixed" legislators are "fixed legislators". They are constantly dumping yesterday's solutions on today's problems.

Our best answer is two terms and out. At the end of two terms most have nothing left to contribute so we really no longer need them.

Cruel Yes! But Government is not a play-yard and it should not be treated as one.

Answer 8

No, we are not. I agree with term limits, but I think people can live a life of public service. You can hold several different elected positions, and serve as adviser, or politically appointed positions.

We need to elect those who will transform Washington's Culture of Corruption!

Answer 9

Ted Kennedy
Ted Stevens
Robert Byrd

'nuff said.

Answer 10

No but how do we get them out? we are not going to see term limits because the politicians are not going to vote to put them self's out of their cushy jobs and we will not vote them out because most of the voters agree that we should have term limits for all politicians except the ones from their state.