What Are They Serving For

Earlier today I was following all the media coverage and interviews in China featuring President Barack Obama. During one of the interviews, he mentioned something to me that has always been in the back of my mind regarding politicians. That being "Why do politicians serve." Do you politicians serve for the money? Do they serve for the power? Do they serve for the people of their district, state, or country? And then when elected, do they care more about getting reelected or serving in their position?

That last question is what stands out most to me. Many times we see a president get elected and they might take chances, but more or less they try to avoid doing anything too controversial until they are reelected. Unless a war is going on, a president is able to dictate how aggressive they need to be on domestic or foreign issues. Bill Clinton was aggressive early in his first term, but slowed down and was able to get reelected. George W. Bush had the luxury of two wars to make many undecided voters if they wanted a change in their chief executive. That is very likely a good reason that FDR got a lot support in 1940 and 1944; people were confident enough in him and felt a change during war time might not be best.

However, unlike some of his predecessors, President Obama has jumped head first into many tough and complicated issues that can easily divide an electorate. The foremost being the health care debate and legislation. Decisions in Afghanistan, the handling of the economy, and choices with the US national security have all drawn praise and criticism alike. In the interview, he mentioned that he knew that he wouldn't be like by everyone and that even though he came into office riding a wave of popularity; it was only a matter of time before it would decrease. When you make tough decisions, sometimes they will be unpopular. The great leaders know the line that they must cross between being liked and not making the best choice and being criticized as well as respected and making the tough calls that are what needs to be done. Afghanistan is a perfect example of that as he is on the brink of deciding to send more troops or not. The decision will be cheered and booed by different groups, but if the right choice is made that is all that matters for the U.S. and those still in the trenches in the Middle East.

As the interview went on, he was asked about reelection and his prospects and where his mind was on the subject. In his answer, he mentioned that he did not run for president with the only intention to get reelected. He has a lot on his plate and there are several tough issues that he must address. If health care passes. If immigration reform passes. If education reform passes. If the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan near an end and the Taliban is contained. If the economy begins to turn for the better and more people are working again and there are jobs. If some or most of that occurs, then he will be able to leave office in 2013 knowing that he is leaving accomplished changes that he set out to obtain. If people support him enough and think that the necessary progress is being made, then they will bring him back for four more years. To me, not enough politicians have that mindset. The old school politicians and those who served in the early years of the republic and at various points throughout our history had that mindset.

If you serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, you are almost constantly campaigning. They legislate probably 25% of the time and campaign 75% of the time. It should be the other way around. Then those in the U.S. Senate serve six year terms where they maybe spend half of their time campaigning and half of their time legislating. Lastly, the U.S. President serves four years and has the first year to attack an agenda full speed and then a little less the second year as they are usually trying to help their party for the midterm elections. The last two years of their term they start to get in campaign mode and are at that 75% campaign and 25% work on their agenda in the fourth year. Obama probably ran one of the best campaigns in recent memories and at times has brought that same energy and tenacity to the White House.

To take this a bit further, I will get you an example of the only president to run for office, get elected, go through his agenda, and leave after four years. In 1844, James K. Polk was elected the 11th President rising from a dark horse candidate to the White House. Not many today would be able to tell you that James Polk was president or what he accomplished in office. A story told by one his cabinet members, George Bancroft; Polk set four clear goals to accomplish in his one term. He looked to reestablish the Independent Treasury System, reduce tariffs, acquire some or all of the Oregon Country, and acquire California and New Mexico. As his term went along, the Walker Tariff was passed, which lowered tariffs. He would pass a law restore the Independent Treasury System where the money would be stored in the Treasury and not independent banks. The Oregon Treaty would give America the land that would become the states of Washington and Oregon. Also included were parts of what would one day be the states of Wyoming and Montana. With this he achieved the fulfillment of America's "Manifest Destiny." And lastly, through the Mexican War, the U.S. able to acquire land that would one day become California, Nevada, and Utah as well as parts of what would become Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Four goals; four accomplishments. Not many, if any presidents have made such bold moves. Not many, if any presidents set goals, carried them out, and walked off into the sunset.

Politicians often times say one thing and do another. There are party politics and special interest politics that go into many decisions and compromise the reason why politicians were supposed to elected to do. I would like to think so in that regard.

When politicians get to the point where they are serving themselves more than their constituents then that is the time when they need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves "What am I serving for."