Politicians: In it for the Honor, or for the Money & Power?

[Philosoraptor]

I was thinking the other day that I too might try to become a hot shot politician. I'm a pretty good bullshitter, if I could just turn off the ethical part of my brain and start speechifyin' and representin' I'll bet I'd start rakin' in the big bucks.

Imagine the swell health care I could get for me and my family, imagine the huge houses I could buy, and all the under the table money I'd be getting for my favor! Imagine the corporate jets, the limos, the best food in the world, travel, fame, 1st class hookers, Cuban cigars, hobnobbing with the hoi poloi, invading sovereign nations, stealing billions right in plain sight, conquering the planet!

Of course, there's the honor of the thing to consider too, being able to serve my nation proudly, to bask in the admiration, adoration even of a grateful citizenry, to hold my head high knowing that I had held public office, elected by the common man and woman to represent them, to help them become as lucky as myself, to ease their minds when catastrophic illness occurs, or when a natural disaster strikes. I could fight the forces of greed and imperialism and make America into a greater nation, a nation restored to we, the people, a nation whose citizens could travel the globe without shame, a nation of good people, with good elected leaders.

So what percentage of our elected officials are the honorable type, and how many are simply typical, caricature, vampire politicians out to grab all the money and power they can like mob bosses? Who are the good ones, who are the lousy ones? Do any of these people represent you?

[Annces]

1. You could run as an infiltrator

Pretend to be one of them, and then get the goods on them.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Rather than money, I think many are in it for power/self-glory, or to advance their party's aims--

a lot of them are already millionaires by the time they get into office. I do think a few are in it for honorable reasons (Obama, Russ Feingold)--mostly these are Democrats, however. I can't think of more than a couple Repugs that serve honorably.

[LeftCoast]

3. Interesting binary thinking process

I find people that view the world in stark contrasts of black and white fascinating.

[Rydz777]

4. The test that I apply to politicians, and especially to Presidential

candidates, is: "Is he/she in it (1)to be somebody, or (2) to do something."

Run the test on Bush. When he first met the Queen of England (when his father was President) he said, "I'm the black sheep of this family. Who's the black sheep of yours?" ("None of your business," replied the Queen.) This reformed drunk, who had been handed a business sinecure, was a ne'er-do-well who had a lot to make up for. He had no serious ambition to do anything important for the country. He just wanted to be President so he could strut around and say "Look what the black sheep did!"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Ego and power. See Lord Acton's axiom for what happens next.

[MadBadger]

6. Neither

Its all about their egos.

[michreject]

7. None of the above

They're in it for power.

[Philosoraptor]

8. Edited for your suggestion.

[dkofos]

9. They are in it for the money. We need term limits!!