Lifer Politicians

Photos

Lifer Politicians | Photo 02

see larger image

uploaded by YankeeJim

• 

  uploaded by YankeeJim | add comment

• 

  uploaded by YankeeJim | add comment

I heard one politician from California remark that after term limits force her from office she has designs on becoming ambassador to Cuba. This statement provides substance for analysis: 1) a politician sees politics as a life-long never ending occupation and 2) term limits won’t terminate their lust for a government salary. That is not the way I think it should be.

I think Americans want representatives who come to office with competence and subject matter expertise to address the needs of the people. The system is wholly inadequate as to guiding the understanding about what is needed from representatives. What the Constitutional framers had in mind, and what I suggest, is best for Americans today, is to select representatives who have backgrounds and experiences paralleling the American people – diverse occupations, knowledge about the issues and needs, especially technical. What we have today is more at “lifer politicians.”

So, when I read reports about Charlie Rangel, a decorated American war hero and lawyer turned lifer politician, and I see how he is bent toward self-serving corruption in the end, this is an example of what we don’t need.

Furthermore, as an African American serving Harlem, his constituents must ask, “Are we better off now from Charlie’s representation than before?” Only they can answer that.

Having lived in Cleveland and Oakland California, I can answer that the communities were not well served by now famous African American leaders. Business moved away, and even government employment from military installations and such moved away leaving more unemployed and additional deterioration.

Why? It is not that leaders were African American; it is because they approached their public duty as lifer politicians akin to permanent welfare recipients.