An extinct breed?

[Steve]

We all, regardless of political orientation, want to see principled people in office, ones with ethics and morals that exhibit honesty and consistently vote their conscience.

I don't think that sort of politician exists, anymore, if he or she ever did.

I believe that money has so corrupted our political process that is twisted beyond all functioning that was intended by the Constitution and the laws of this nation. I'm not saying that all politicians are guilty of accepting bribes, but the influence of money on politics is pervasive. I believe it impossible for any politician to remain impartial and uninfluenced even if that politician eschews all external monies.

Politics has been called the "art of compromise"; well and good, but when the people a politician is attempting negotiations are themselves influenced by the huge quantities of money flowing through the system, how can that one politician be uninfluenced? Compound the pervasive influence of money with the near-constant need for compromise, and we end up with the disaster known as "Sodom on the Potomac". Certainly there is nothing wrong with making some concessions, wheeling and dealing to obtain things that are good for a constituency, but when that mode of operations overwhelms, as I believe it does, then I believe the morals and honesty of individual politicians become overwhelmed, as well.

How can a person stand fast facing the monolith of Capitol Hill? A rhetorical question, I believe, though I wish it otherwise.

[Techie2000]

Nah, not extinct. The people just don't want them in office.

[bruzzes]

Steve, you express eloquently the problem that has been talked about for years. Some campaign reforms were introduced to limit this influence, but they were for show rather than concrete substance.
Unfortunatly, money talks. It has become a pre-requisite for election.
Although capitalism has been found to be the most effective form of economic viability, it has this major flaw. That flaw is "corruption."
And what is corruption but an eroding infuence on intrinsic moral values such as honesty, integrity and steadfastness.

Values change, depending on the religous and social mores of our times. Sometimes I wonder about the movement to eliminate all forms of morality associated with God. I can understand seperation of state and religion, and also understand those who believe there is no God. But where do those values we hold in highest esteem originate from?

I am not so cynical to believe that we cannot return to a state where financial influence is banned from our political process. This may be highly unlikely, but there are individuals who stand up in our times of need. Often the times make the man. I can think of Churchill, reviled in the period before WWII and for a period following same, yet he exhibited the needed qualities to raise a nation from it's knees.

Maybe I am an eternal optimist, and I am definitly blessed with faith, but I believe we can "endeavor to persevere" to use Churchill's own words and eventually overcome the obstacles in our political process.

There is a member here in this forum that gives me great hope.
He epitomizes all that can be great as his maturation continues.
You know of who I speak.
How can you be cynical, when a shining example is present before you?