Running and getting elected to public office, it's not unusual to sell half your soul to the political machine and the other half to special interest groups that are the goose that lays the golden egg, to outspend the opposition. Seldom does somebody emerge with enough backbone to serve the public and not the manipulators behind the scene.
It's been a losing battle reminding those we put into office that they are working for us, not we working for them.
Not that long ago, a usually smug female senator from a far western state, denigrated a high ranking military officer for addressing her as Ma'am. She was indignant and chastised him because he didn't address her as Senator; after all, she worked so hard to become one. The arrogance of an elitist at their peak! Hopefully her constituency will feed her humble pie on her next re-election bid.
The T.E.A.'s movement mirrors my anger, frustration and view toward the privileged leeches in office. We have to replace them with dedicated individuals who have the tenacity to serve without self benefit. They don't have to be Mother Teresa; just honest and forthright with the taxpayers' money. Is this an impossible dream?
Scratching the surface searching for this illusive dream, William Jefferson, James A. Traficant, Charles Rangel, John Conyer's spouse, Randy Cunningham and Maxine Waters do not come to mind. Would the Clintons have been able to shell out a million or better bucks for Chelsea's wedding before he became president? Would the spouse of our present President been able to travel the world with all her relatives and friends at government expense while he lives on the golf course and shoots hoops?
Public office is turning out to be a very lucrative and profitable business.
George Giftos is a retired travel agency executive, in management for agencies by Fugazy World Travel, U.S. Industries, Carlson Companies.
George is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
