| I have concluded of late that I could only | | | | interests of the lobby they represent. How |
| consider myself a political independent if | | | | often do we see politicians, who when they |
| there is such a thing. I do not think I | | | | leave office, become pawns; working for one |
| should be labeled Republican or Democrat, on | | | | lobby interest or the other? Elected federal |
| the Left or on the Right or any other | | | | government officials need to be banned by law |
| affiliation except to be a proud citizen of | | | | from working for a lobby for at least 5 to 10 |
| this United States and live by the principles | | | | years after they leave office in order to |
| on which this great nation was founded. | | | | stop the habit of influence peddling after |
| | | | they in fact leave public office. |
| As far as I am concerned, our government, as | | | | |
| it stands today, is in great need of an | | | | I dare say, I lay a good part of the guilt |
| overhaul and a wake up call. I firmly believe | | | | for the perversion of public office on We The |
| that if our founding fathers could see the | | | | People themselves whom have absolved their |
| way our government and institutions run | | | | responsibility to impose and elect officials |
| today, they would be greatly disturbed and | | | | on their merit and desire to serve the |
| dismayed on how far We The People have | | | | people. They have abdicated their rights by |
| strayed from the principles that our republic | | | | allowing so-called public servants to make |
| was built on. | | | | their own decisions of policy and directions |
| | | | for the public servants own benefit. "To |
| There was a time long ago and at the | | | | hell what the people want!" they say. "We |
| beginning of our republic and our experiment | | | | know what is best for them. Where would they |
| in democracy, that to serve in public office | | | | be without us?" they say as they puff up |
| was considered a privilege and not a right. | | | | their chests and proudly strut. |
| To serve in public office often meant | | | | |
| financial sacrifice to those who gladly | | | | I always thought that there should be some |
| served the people and this great country, | | | | sort of term limitations for all federal |
| sacrifice or not. | | | | elected positions, not just for the |
| | | | presidency. Change is good, as it allows the |
| Today most who serve in public office expect | | | | government to refresh itself on a regular |
| a windfall financially and are mainly | | | | basis by bringing new ideas and approaches to |
| interested in the influence they can gain to | | | | work for the people. |
| increase their wealth in office and for when | | | | |
| they leave office. Where is the personal and | | | | When will We The People ever wake up and |
| financial sacrifice to serve? They look at | | | | demand that the government of the people, for |
| their title as a possession and not a | | | | the people, by the people be truly put into |
| privilege. They pontificate to attempt to | | | | the hands of the people and not political |
| bend the will of the people to their ways of | | | | demigods'? |
| thinking instead of deriving their actions | | | | |
| from the will of the people to whom they | | | | I see the slow demise of our republic if We |
| profess to serve. Some politicians become so | | | | The People are not brought to our senses. |
| entrenched in their governmental powers; they | | | | Will we follow the demise that history has |
| often feel themselves above the law. | | | | shown us be-felled other once great nations |
| | | | and peoples? I would say, it is likely, |
| Today's politicians are a washed in a tsunami | | | | considering the current state of affairs of |
| of lobbyists, who bend the ears of those in | | | | government and the distance we have traveled |
| government in order to influence the | | | | from our roots of our democracy and our |
| politicians' vote that will most benefit the | | | | republic. |