Politics Suck

Let me start this post with a pre-story and then I'll come back with my views on politics as a profession.

I’ve had a few conversations with Chris Hawk (a friend of mine who is in residency following medical school) about why people become doctors.  He contends that most are compelled to the profession for reasons other than helping others.  For some it’s the money, and for others where it originally wasn’t about the money, it becomes about the money because they graduate with $250k or more of debt!  The moral high ground is a path taken by few graduating from medical school these days.  He also acknowledges that he is fortunate to be in a position where it isn’t about the money.  That’s also why he’s going to be a general MD, not a specialist. 

The reason I share this conversation is to talk about why people enter politics.  I wonder, is it because they want to serve the people?  Is it because they want the fame?  Is it because they believe they can change the system for the better?  I really don’t know, but my opinion is that very few would have a shred of credibility if they told you it was to “serve their constituency”.  Bullshit.  There is no way possible that almost any elected official in our federal government could say this.  Not with the track record they have established.

That’s one of the major reasons I hate politics.  Another is that I don’t really understand it, and to be frank, I really don’t want to.  I know, it has a material impact on me and my family and for that I should at least pay attention.  But really, how much BS can someone really want to hear? 

This is not a democratic thing and it’s not a republican thing, it’s a government thing and it makes me sick to my stomach.  I would actually like to become a politician.  But only if I could change the system and represent the American public and my constituency.  And that just won’t happen.  I wonder how many aspiring politicians have realized this fact after obtaining an elected office.  You can’t change it.  You have to play by the same BS rules that everyone else does.  Get elected, raise money, don’t upset the apple cart, create alliances, and hopefully get re-elected.  Perhaps, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to look at your accomplishments 40 years into your political career and a few pieces of legislation that have made a difference have your name on them. 

No thanks, not the profession for me.  That makes most any profession more fulfilling (hot dog vendor makes lots of people happy every day) than politics.  So again, who is becoming a politician and for what God forsaken reason do they have the desire to do that job???