Many of us stumble through life with our days of joy, months of the routine and times of despair. Some of us are more reflective than others as we seek to make sense of it all…or merely a little part of it all. Some psychologists and business consultants inform us that in many cases recognition is a greater motivator than increased pay. Most people desire, at some level, to be significant. During my campaign last year, I encountered several of the tyrannical overlords of some our political forums. These “little kings and queens” conducted the programs with iron fists and airs of command. They relished their significance as they marched candidates and audience through the ceremonies of the evening. We can witness similar behavior in almost any group, organization or function that requires some organizational skill. People want to be significant….important….recognized.
In my view the desire for significance is the primary motivator for career politicians. If they were driven by selfless service, there are a multitude of opportunities for one to serve the community, state, nation or humankind without basking in the spotlight of political activity. Most of them are obsessed with the appearance of service (the image) rather than the actual tasks required for true serving. Why would anyone with her or his sanity intact want to spend their time continuously running for an office in an institution (House) that has lower than 10% public approval? Perhaps campaigning every six years for a Senate seat makes more sense, but the bombastic bloviating of most senators would become tedious after a day or two. There’s an old saying that “the Senate is composed of 100 egomaniacs who all believe they should be president.” That little gem says a lot about the joys of “serving” in the United States Senate. The desire to be considered a significant player would appear to be the impetus for running for the Senate.
Presidential politics is another ballgame. The egos are similar, but larger. The spotlight is brighter and bigger. The power is phenomenal. Even in this age where Civil Service has theoretically replaced the patronage system, Presidents can create staff positions out of the thinnest of air. Clearly a presidential wannabe must be very confident and self-assured. Extreme egomania, however, can lead to gross missteps and miscalculations. The range of issues that impact the Presidency are so great that the officeholder must seek out and listen to wise, experienced counselors. An ego-driven approach will drive serious advisors away and attract genuflecting sycophants. Nevertheless, a presidential hopeful must have the drive to be considered significant. All presidents, some more brazenly than others, want to have a “legacy.” Whether a monumental achievement or some element of policy that fundamentally changes our direction and our ways of doing things, the President desires to leave office having crafted a significant element that succeeds him (so far it’s only men).
It seems logical to conclude, therefore, that politicians, particularly career politicians, yearn to be seen as significant. Why else would so many have post offices, bridges, highways and buildings that bear their names? For the most part they do not have the servant’s heart, but crave the lights of the stage and the clamor of the crowd. This aspect of their personalities is something that is a product of the two-party system, the mass media, and inattentive citizens. The two-party system is partly at fault because not enough dissenting voices are present in the political process to demand accountability from the two old parties who have controlled the process and the discourse for more than 150 years. The mass media, news and entertainment, carry much of the blame because of their emphasis on glitter, glamour and “gotcha” programming. Boring policy discussions do not sell even when they inform and enlighten the audience. Citizens can and should demand that political candidates and their parties discard the shallow for the specific, but they revel in the show-biz and reward politicians for being good speakers (who say nothing) and good looking (with nothing between their ears). In the end the citizens have attracted and encouraged the mindless political class that we have today. We are burdened with significantly insignificant politicians who lust for significance. Be careful what you wish for.
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