America’s Political Class is in Business for Themselves
Many, perhaps most people living outside our nation’s capital city think political Washington is a malignant swamp that ingests, absorbs and assimilates politicians.
It is.
It matters not how smart, altruistic or committed newcomers may be, the longer they stay, the more most of them lose touch with practical reality.
The unelected are not immune, either. Media, consultants, lobbyists, staff members, bureaucrats – nearly everyone in public Washington is susceptible.
Too many swamp-dwellers become powerful, comfortable and, especially, prosperous there. Washington’s bedroom counties in Maryland and Virginia are among America’s wealthiest.
Indeed, much of America’s political class is in business for themselves. Many in Congress hold the best job they’ve ever had, and, for most of those, the best job they will ever have. In time, members begin and spend each day fixated on what they can do to stay in office. Money is a constant, overriding concern.
Consequently, legislators’ thoughts wander from their sworn duty to provide good governance and, too often, onto how they will finance another successful re-election campaign.
With few exceptions, it doesn’t start that way for most politicians, but time is their enemy – and ours. Time turns legislators against constituents by encouraging them to focus on themselves, and time allows initial public-service aspirations to give way to self-service.
As time and position beget temptations, some surrender.
Certain current and former members of Congress have been fined for ethical and campaign finance irregularities. Others and the lobbyists with whom members colluded have done jail time for violations of their oaths and the law. Some – many – members and special interest lobbyists get away with brokering congressional earmarks and other favors involving our tax money for campaign donations and other benefits.
Seniority in Congress and too much time in office distract officeholders from legitimate voter interests and encourage the conceit that preservation of members’ incumbencies is crucial to their constituents.
Most Americans are or have been represented by House members serving more than five terms in Washington or senators serving more than two. Legislative careers can last decades. Even though America’s Founders didn’t envision a permanent political class, many legislators have slopped at the public trough in one political role or another for their entire adult lives.
In addition to time, the education, training and experience of America’s political class often limit their competence and sabotage the public’s interests.
The educational and work background of legislators, combined with their accumulated practical, real-world experience qualifies few of them to create policy on anything as complex as the American economy and national defense.
America’s political landscape is littered with irrelevant degrees held by credentialed, but inexperienced, often undereducated and ill-prepared people who either write our laws or give advice to those who do.
Frankly, “Political Science” is to “science” as tree surgery is to medicine. A degree in “Public Administration” means…exactly…what?
“Sociology” is a “science” in the same way astrology is. Law degrees don’t qualify legislators to make law and set policy regulating small businesses – or health care, energy and education.
America is governed by people who have never designed, invented or manufactured a useful product, performed a commercial service, sown or harvested crops, treated patients, met a payroll, or even punched a time clock as most Americans have done or do.
Of what value is knowing how to move legislation without knowing what legislation is actually needed – if any?
America has a political class and political advisory network populated by people whose livelihoods, prosperity and futures depend on maintenance of a system they have made incoherent and unsustainable. Political visions of reality differ fundamentally from the practical realities understood by most Americans, and contradict the variously attributed saying that “the government is best which governs least.”
Assuming their willingness to serve, electing candidates with practical experience outside politics would strengthen government, and make it more competent and responsive to the nation’s problems. Doing so would have the additional advantage of sending officeholders to Washington who are capable of supporting themselves when their political careers end, and who are far less likely to game the system to favor themselves and special interests.
America would benefit from term limiting national officeholders and electing people who don’t have to calculate what their every move, every floor vote and every decision means for preserving their incumbency – and, accordingly, their livelihoods.
