The longer I observe politics in America, the more concerned I become about “Professional Politicians.”  Some holding offices in our government have never held a job in the private sector or created and run a business.   All they know is politics, and most of them entered that arena as less than millionaires, but many have become extremely wealthy on meager salaries.   Imagine that!

In 1782, Benjamin Franklin spoke of the differences between America and the statist bureaucracies of Europe.   Unlike in Europe, there were few political offices in America.   None of them was profitable enough to be attractive to men of greed.   All politicians were expected to earn their living in the private sector.    The Political office was to be chosen not for profit but for the purpose of sacrificial service.

In a very un-PC way, Franklin asserted, “Industry and constant employment are great preservatives of the morals and virtue of a nation.  Hence, bad examples to youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable consideration to parents.”

According to Dr. Foster, however, Franklin’s “industry and constant employment” have been misdirected by a professional political class that systematically ignores the limitations imposed upon them by God and the Constitution:

“Most Americans do not know that their “public servants” actually live in a different world and under different laws than they do.  Federal and state public employees have their own pension plans and health care that guarantees each person hundreds of thousands of dollars in their retirement.  Recent studies reveal that public salaries are nearly double that of the private sector for comparable jobs.  And because of public employee unions, these millions of bureaucrats are promised life-long job security and retirement by age 50-something.  On the other hand, private citizens, by the age of 65, receive a pittance of their contribution to Social Security, virtually no pensions, and Medicare, which is nearly bankrupt.”

Sadly, today, it is so lucrative to hold a political position that millions are spent on an office that supposedly pays 100 grand or so per year. Yet, those who go to Washington may be of meager substance financially but leave there with portfolios in the millions. 

The Founders repeatedly made it clear that they wanted no person to become a Permanent Fixture in Public Service regardless of qualifications.  George Washington could have been king, but his desire to see a free republic was greater than any potential ego that he might have possessed, so he refused to serve more than two terms in office. 

I believe that is an excellent standard regarding our politicians.  If We, the People, held them to that and sent fresh new blood to Washington after a couple of terms, the Power Mongers would begin to lose their grip on our throats, and we might.   I say “might be able” to finally elect people who truly were Public Servants rather than people who view us as their servants!

That’s my rant for the day; do with it what you will.  God bless you, and God bless America!