The Meaning of Public Service

New people to politics of which we have a great number this year often complain that they hate “politicians” or worst they look down on them because they make holding office their life’s career. People argue that we need new ideas and new people to effect change. Our lead presidential candidate at present has based his whole campaign on change and that he is new to national politics. Is a career in public service a bad goal for anyone? Does it make you a bad person? Does working for the government make you an evil person?

Kennedy and Rockefeller, These are family names that are respected in our party because their families have taught them the true meaning of the word “public service.” It is not about holding office but reaching out to help people that matters when it comes to holding an office. Self sacrifice for the greater good. The personal reward for public service is all about knowing that you have helped people who don’t have the skills to help themselves. Attention and respect come not from holding office but what you achieve while holding office. The greater good comes for having the power and the wisdom gained over time to understand what will create real and lasting change without causing unforeseen harm such as with corn and world hunger. Another good example was the war in Iraq where people were calling for war but senior senators would not vote for it because their reasoning told them it was a mistake from the start. There is nothing wrong from learning from past mistakes as long as you are willing to admit to them. People can be trained to be good public servants but it is not an easy task.

Some people go into politics for the attention or the personal profit. They think they are doing the right things but for all of the wrong reasons. They see power as their end goal and will do anything to acquire it. They are willing to compromise their ethics to gain power. They treat people with total disrespect and don’t understand why when they win they don’t win by large margins. For these types of people power gives them self esteem. They have a need to appear better than others and often look down on the very people they claim to represent.

The voting public can be a very demanding group of people to live with in politics. They want to look under your hood and kick your tires before voting for you. They ask you endless questions often repeatedly and never appear completely satisfied or happy with your answers. They want to know every little detail about you and everyone who is a part of your life. What the voting public is looking for is that signal which is intangible that you can be trusted and have their best interest at heart. They want to know that you can not be diverted by little things like attacking people who give offence to your beliefs or standards. Public Service is a great calling but it is hard often difficult work that will eat away at your personal life. Yet the rewards of seeing the faces of the people you have helped are something that can never be shaken or taking away.

I would advise the current group of candidates to be kind and understanding to the voting public at this point in your campaigns and as for the voting public remember that while all candidates are not perfect they do deserve to be treated with kindness and courtesy.