Of Moths and Men

Before Lisa and I moved to San Antonio, we voted for Rob Blagojevich as he ran for governor of Illinois. He was young, a democrat and promising reform. His opponent, Governor George Ryan, was an old guard republican steeped in institutional corruption. There was talk that Ryan was about to be indicted on federal charges. It seemed like a “no brainer” at the time. Rob won the election and a few years after our departure won a second term as governor.

So, what happened? How did he go from this fresh faced reformer full of promise on the Illinois scene to a common thug, a shakedown artist selling President-Elect Obama’s former senate seat to the highest bidder among other despicable scandals designed to bring him more wealth and power? At one time, he had it all and now he faces a criminal trial and impeachment. His political career, his reputation has been destroyed. What didn’t he get?

Too many politicians enter public service for the wrong reason or they allow themselves to be corrupted along the way. The allure of personal wealth and power become addictive. Politicians become adept at telling us what they think we want to hear so they can win our votes. We just finished a two-year presidential campaign where the charges and counter-charges crowded out the issues that should have been at the forefront. If you want to win, if you want to be effective, you have to “play ball” or you are left in the dust of history. Such is our political system today. Perhaps it has always been thus.

We want to believe what politicians tell us. We want to believe in their virtue, but deep down we know how the game is played. We know there are compromises and deals behind the closed doors away from the light of public scrutiny. When their greed and arrogance finally expose their misdeeds, we are shocked, disillusioned and outraged at their betrayals or we become cynical and come to distrust all who would seek public office. Those who seek office with the courage of their convictions, to actually serve the public and make the world a better place, are rare. To be an effective leader in a sea of self-serving politicians…is rare indeed. The lure of wealth and power are like moths to the flame.

Eventually they are consumed.

FOOD for THOUGHT...