Backing a hooker for elected office

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Amberbock. Mmmmmm

If you read all the way through, this column may short circuit some wiring in your brain. I will bet you a frosty mug of cold one that my conclusions will surprise you at first.

This is not about politics. I promise, but it talks a lot about politics.

Enough rambling-

Periodically we all encourage someone to run for office. Most of the time the person we so encourage vehemently denies any interest in seeking office. "Couldn't get elected" is the main excuse given, but there are many more.

Recently the topic came up and a person was encouraged to run for office.

This person objected. Said he would not run.

Embedded in the State of Confusion

To summarize, the person so asked said he would not take office because when a person takes office, they become corrupted. Longer version - the newly elected person becomes more interested in serving himself and special interests than in staying true to the values and promises he espoused when running for office.

Do you agree with that statement?

If you agree, do you agree that is also a reason you won't run for office?

You can agree with the first and disagree with the second.

But if you agree with the second question, I have to say if being elected to office will corrupt you, it's not the office that did the corrupting.

Be proud of it!

You are already corrupt. You may just have a handle on it and keep it mild. Or, you realize you don't have the willpower to resist and so avoid it. Possibly both.

It's like the apocryphal tale of one of the leaders of Great Britain asking a woman "Would you sleep with me for $1 million?"

The woman says yes.

"Would you sleep with me for $1?" comes the next question.

"No. What do you think I am, a prostitute?" she replied.

"That, madam, we have already established. Now we are negotiating price."

So, all we're talking about here is a matter of degrees of corruption, a matter of amount or percentages.

"Lead me not into temptation for I already know how to get there."

Power, as the old axiom states, corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The whole truth and nothing but the truth

You can find rare instances throughout history of people who break that rule. Some were great leaders. Some were among the worst leaders in the history of the world, and anywhere between the extremes.

Regardless of their quality as a leader, they share a common trait with the people who say they will not seek office for it will corrupt them.

It is a trait I consider to be among the most honorable a person can have.

I am not kidding.

These people are honest about their nature.

Say what you will, THAT is the kind of leader I can respect. I might not be willing to follow them (they are not always good leaders), but I will always have tremendous respect for them.