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