Stop over respecting politicians

Call them statesmen, call them public servants, call them by whatever title you want, but we need to stop over respecting people elected to office. In fact, there's an argument to be made that nearly everyone in the federal government (including certain members of the security, military, and intelligence worlds which are typically immune from criticism) get more respect than is merited.

Our system of government does not Christen government employees as holier than their fellow citizens. Elected officials, especially, should not be perceived as better than the rest of the populace. In some ways, politicians should be less respected than private actors. Private actors are productive and generate the prosperity upon which politicians are reliant. Without private actors, the politicians would have no government to run.

Why do I write that we should stop over respecting politicians? Because the electorate is giving too much leeway to elected officials. Obama's much heralded $100,000 date night with his wife in New York is a good example (maybe it was $60,000, maybe it was $250,000- I've seen a lot of numbers, but my point will remain the same). Reading about the 2009 trip in the New York Times, one gets the impression the people watching Obama's invasion simply adored being inconvenienced by the esteemed couple.

The operation was far more than just a security entourage. Obama's security and protocol team shut down runways, roads, and city blocks to move the esteemed couple to watch a play- which, by the way, I'll add to Obama's plus column: he at least prefers legitimate theater to musicals.

"'I thought I was dreaming,' said Kecia McCowen, a 45-year-old utility worker and student from Brooklyn."

"'There are no words for it,' said one of the productions actors."

Actually, I have some words for it. Wasteful. Imperial. Something other than American.

To be fair, this is a criticism I would say applies to every president since Truman. Even Reagan, who understood better than anyone in the past half-century that all Americans are equal, relished the office and its perks.

"You don't have to respect the man, but always the office" I heard a lot when Republicans were debating Bill Clinton's sexual indiscretions fifteen years ago.

But shouldn't it be the other way? Political work should be an honor, and carry with it the bare minimum of benefits.

I admire the Nevada State Legislature. Like many state legislatures in the West, salaries are sensible. In Nevada Assemblymen and Senators (and Assemblywomen, it is where Sharon Angle got her start) receive a moderate per diem of around $145 per day. Since the legislative session is limited by the State Constitution to 120 days per year, even with the occasional special session, it is unlikely a member of the State Legislature will ever make more than $20,000 per year from their position.

Such a reasonable renumeration makes such positions more of a hobby than an illustrious position.

Hobbies are not trivial, incidentally. For many people, their most productive energies are devoted to hobbies. One works hardest, after all, on issues about which they are passionate.

It would be an improvement if political office was held by people interested in doing the best job possible.

So I do not respect the office then. Public office, and indeed work in the public sector, is a necessary burden that we must all pay for, and hopefully as inexpensively as possible.