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