What Are Congressional Democrats So Afraid Of?

[SheilaT]

11. I honestly think the underlying problem is that once a person is elected,

their main focus is on being re-elected.

I've been hanging out with party politics for about a decade now, and I've seen it in action. I've seen the staff of a Representative explain to that Rep to vote a particular way on an issue because of re-election considerations. I've watched good candidates give up because they just can't handle the long hours in a small room begging for contributions.

I think that a lot of elected people start out sincerely wanting to do what they think is best, and then being overwhelmed by the entire need to be re-elected.

I honestly see no way out of this. At least not under our current system, which doesn't allow for someone to go into office, serve for a short time and then go back home.

Even though I can think of certain long serving politicians I think have been wonderful, I don't think a career in politics is a very good idea. I'm not sure I completely support term limits, but we've completely lost sight of the idea of a citizen-legislator.