I am watching the leaders' debate this evening. It is on every Canadian channel, so it's not like I have much choice.
I have stated this before to anyone who would listen, and I still feel this way. This is a blanket statement about politics and politicians of any party, any time, anywhere. It is as follows:
Politicians put up with a lot of crap.
I don't know many people who would try to apply for a job every few years, and to have good people disagree with you just for the sake of disagreeing with you. I don't know many people who would like it very much if other people got in their face during meal time.
Politicians have to tolerate and accept and even welcome vituperation and constant criticism and intense scrutiny. Sounds like fun. Boy, I want to put myself through that.
In real terms, the money isn't that good. Most good people can make more money in the private sector and have much less b.s.. in their lives. Instead, they put themselves out there and try to make the world, or at least their constituency, a better place.
I don't understand why any good person would want to put himself, or herself, through all the hassle and the b.s. and aggravation associated with seeking, attaining, and retaining a public office. It is not readily apparent to me.
Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen?
Bevboy
6 comments:
I largely agree with your comments, Bev. But I would also add thank God we do have some good people who are willing to put up with the crap and let their names stand for the voters to choose from. Hopefully we do get some good - honest - people elected. People who won't be tempted by the perks that can be available to them and who will represent us in the proper way.
Oh, and it would be really nice if the House of Commons would get down to the business of Canada and not continue to bicker like a bunch of children!
You wrote, "Politicians put up with a lot of crap."
That's very true but truly only from a personal perspective.
Here's a different perspective:
The Canadian general public put up with a lot of cr*p from politicians!
Thanks, Ken, and Sandell.
My point, Sandell, is that people choose to seek public office, ostensibly because they want to make their sphere of influence be a better place. As I pointed out last evening, nearly all of these people could make more money and have less b.s. in their lives, if they worked for the private sector.
The politicians are the ones who put themselves out there and have to tolerate and accept personal attacks and a near-endless supply of criticism from political pundits who think they know better and constituents who have nothing better to do with their lives than complain about stuff.
I'm not saying that politicians should not be criticized. Far from it. I'm just saying that maybe, just maybe, most of the men and women really do mean well and really do want to do right by the people they are sworn to represent.
It would be nice if more people acknowledged that.
Bevboy
You wrote, "most of the men and women really do mean well and really do want to do right by the people they are sworn to represent."
Actually our elected respresentatives do right by the political parties they represent - they never vote in the best interests of their constituents.
Sandell, I think you are painting with a pretty broad brush when you say that our elected representatives "never vote in the best interests of their constituents." I will agree that in many votes in the Commons they vote along party lines, but I can also recall many votes where Members have "voted their conscience" after hearing from their constituents! The unfortunate part is that all too often they don't hear from the grassroots at all and are left with the party line or, worse yet, lobbyists as their guide.
Good morning Ken:
What happened to Bill Casey (if I remember his name correctly), a Nova Scotian Conservative MP, who voted against the Atlantic Accord because he didn't think it was in the best interests of his constituents? The poor soul got booted from his caucus simply for following basic democratic practices.
What happened to Garth Turner, another Conservative MP from Halton, Ontario? He took this mantra of consulting his constituents to heart by blogging about his experiences and allowing all his constituents to fully participate in a democratic fashion - they even advised Mr Turner how he should vote on their behalf. He also got turfed from his caucus!
Free votes in the Parliament are very far and few in between.
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