Politics these days

Mr. Dreher writes:

"Why would any mother or father want their children to go into politics these days? Honestly, could anything be worth putting up with all of this?"

No good mother or father should want such a disgrace. I would consider a desire by any child of mine to go into politics as evidence of collapsed character, on a par with a desire to be a mercenary athlete or "performing artist".

I would also consider it evidence of failed parenting on my part.

Your servant,

Lord Karth

When my daughter started her first post-college full time job (a non-profit educational org), she took to heart my perspective-building advice: the faces may change, the list of important issues may differ, but there will always be [office] politics. People will do mean-spirited things. The trick is in figuring out if the person is making an honest mistake or is also a mean-spirited person. The former can usually be counted on to rectify their mistakes; the latter present you with a choice: put up and shut up, or find another job.

Any politician who can own up to and rectify mistakes gets my immediate admiration (a step above respect) and has made a huge step in earning (or validating) my vote.

Yes: Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

And when it fails to meet those criteria, guess who's to blame: the people.

It's Y(OUR) fault either way, so step up, citizens, or 'stifle!', as A. Buncker would say.

Or as H.L. Mencken is supposed to have said, "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it, good and hard."