Politics Holding Us Hostage
October 31, 2016 at 5:11 p.m.
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Following is my commentary with the national/state general elections less than two weeks away:
Elected Representatives
1. That “no qualification of wealth, of birth, or religious faith, or civil profession is permitted to fetter the judgment or disappoint the inclination of the people.”
2. That “they would not aim at the ambitious sacrifice of the many for the aggrandizement of the few.”
3. That “they make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends as well as on the great mass of society.”
4. That these securities however would be found very insufficient without the restraint of frequent elections.”
These principles for the behavior of elected representatives are from James Madison, reputedly the father of the Constitution and fourth president of the U.S. (taken from The Federalist Papers).
During this election year, could the people find candidates who would adhere to such principles rather than those who will follow the hierarchy of a political party, their paymasters, lobbyists, PACs, etc.
Obviously a scarce few, based on the present crop announced for election and re-election.
Political Parties
1. They “serve always to distract the public councils and enfeeble public administration.”
2. They “agitate the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms.”
3. They “kindle animosity of one part against another, foment occasionally riot and insurrection.”
4. They “open the door to foreign influence and corruption, thus the policy and will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
Take from George Washington’s farewell address – quite a prophet, wasn’t he?
Career Politicians
Simplistically, they are incumbents who dote on patronage, cronyism and nepotism to acquire an eternal power position hopefully thereby to feed forever at the public trough. They then have the audacity to define this action as “experience,” which is touted as necessary for best government service.
Since this “experience” has brought us to where we are today, I want no part of it! Could we strive to toss this element out of government and have a real house cleaning at the next election? To do less would result in the same old same old.
Of course, the hierarchy of the two major parties holds people hostage to such reformation. Does anyone have an idea how to break this hold on our election process in the short term?
Just the Sunday morning musings of an old-timer.
D.R. Miller
Warsaw
Following is my commentary with the national/state general elections less than two weeks away:
Elected Representatives
1. That “no qualification of wealth, of birth, or religious faith, or civil profession is permitted to fetter the judgment or disappoint the inclination of the people.”
2. That “they would not aim at the ambitious sacrifice of the many for the aggrandizement of the few.”
3. That “they make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends as well as on the great mass of society.”
4. That these securities however would be found very insufficient without the restraint of frequent elections.”
These principles for the behavior of elected representatives are from James Madison, reputedly the father of the Constitution and fourth president of the U.S. (taken from The Federalist Papers).
During this election year, could the people find candidates who would adhere to such principles rather than those who will follow the hierarchy of a political party, their paymasters, lobbyists, PACs, etc.
Obviously a scarce few, based on the present crop announced for election and re-election.
Political Parties
1. They “serve always to distract the public councils and enfeeble public administration.”
2. They “agitate the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms.”
3. They “kindle animosity of one part against another, foment occasionally riot and insurrection.”
4. They “open the door to foreign influence and corruption, thus the policy and will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
Take from George Washington’s farewell address – quite a prophet, wasn’t he?
Career Politicians
Simplistically, they are incumbents who dote on patronage, cronyism and nepotism to acquire an eternal power position hopefully thereby to feed forever at the public trough. They then have the audacity to define this action as “experience,” which is touted as necessary for best government service.
Since this “experience” has brought us to where we are today, I want no part of it! Could we strive to toss this element out of government and have a real house cleaning at the next election? To do less would result in the same old same old.
Of course, the hierarchy of the two major parties holds people hostage to such reformation. Does anyone have an idea how to break this hold on our election process in the short term?
Just the Sunday morning musings of an old-timer.
D.R. Miller
Warsaw
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