Would you do it?

[HarmNone]

Let's say you had a snowball's chance in hell of being elected to the House, the Senate, or --- gods forbid ---the office of President of the United States.
Would you take this position without salary, or with a salary only large enough to support your basic needs: housing, food, clothing - exactly as you are doing now (and that only if your means of support would be negated by assuming the office to which you were elected)? This would, of course, mean that you would accept no "gratuities" from lobbyists or any of the other slime that populates Capitol Hill. Only those requirements that specifically go with the job would be paid for.

It's always seemed to me that these offices are service-oriented. In other words, those who fill these offices would be doing so in order to serve their country, their state, the people who depend on them to keep them safe, secure, and moving forward in the world. Too often, I've seen the holders of these offices leave these offices with far more wealth than they had when they entered same offices. Would this be you, or would you strive for something different?

[TheEschaton]

I would do it. But then again, I'm in law school with the aim of serving people for about 100 grand less a year than most of my peers will be earning.

The modern idea of "public service" is a joke. I feel like it was originally meant for people, from the people, to serve the interests of the people, but in a way, with a 98% incumbency rate, it's become more of a landed aristocracy more than anything else. They wield all sorts of regulatory power, and people are willing to pay (again, a side effect of the illness which is capitalism) to make sure the people in power are on their side, without seeing if their side has merit or morality. And those people "in power" accept it.

I've always been raised that those who are most effective as "leaders" are in actuality, servants. It's Biblical in its basis, in that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and not the other way around. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first, yadda yadda yadda.

-TheE-

[Sean of the Thread]

Fuck no.

[Asha]

x2

[Ignot]

I would.

[HarmNone]

I've always been raised that those who are most effective as "leaders" are in actuality, servants. -TheE-

This reminds me of something I was once told by someone I respect hugely:

"A promotion to a higher position doesn't mean you have more people working for you. It means you're working for more people."

I've found that to be true. :)

[Artha]

Heck yeah.

[GuildRat]

You know what really sucks? These "servants of the public" work four....FOUR years...get a full retirement. that's some serious BS.

[Jorddyn]

I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Too many skeletons (and nowhere near enough cash) in my closet to get elected, though.

Jorddyn

[Tisket]

Yeah, it's a shame that most of the people that would serve in this way are probably lacking in the funds to get elected in the first place.

[Skirmisher]

I would like to think that I would be able to decline any such bribes no matter how well disguised they may be.

The thing to remember is that simply by doing the job you gain invaluable experience that would put you in demand in many other well paying positions after serving your term(s).

[Drew]

I'd do it for one term, try to make some actual real change, I'm not getting re-elected so who cares.

[Olanan]

One of you people as president?

...

(no)

[Sean of the Thread]

One of you people as president?

...

(no)

Any of these people would have been a better president than Al Gore at least.

[Gan]

I would do it. But then again, I'm in law school with the aim of serving people for about 100 grand less a year than most of my peers will be earning.
-TheE-

Didnt you say you were going to be an assistant district attorney? I figured you to be more of a defense attorney with your bleeding heart and idealistic viewpoint. Imagining you prosecuting all those innocently charged criminals does give me a chuckle. Indeed.

:lol:


On topic:

No, because it would take more than 1 term to accomplish anything, and as such, compromises would have to be made in order to get relected which would carry the same weight as a salary or money from interest groups.

[TheEschaton]

I do want to be an ADA, yes. Because the idea of defending people who are unequivocably guilty is something I can't do. I understand their right to a lawyer, but I'm not gonna be him.

As a prosecutor, a fair-minded one who is interested in justice and criminal rehabilitation, at least I could operate in good faith that I'm doing good.

-TheE-

[Gan]

As a prosecutor, a fair-minded one who is interested in justice and criminal rehabilitation, at least I could operate in good faith that I'm doing good.

-TheE-

That just seems so naieve to me for some reason. But then again, I'm not in law school (yet). So I might be misconstruing how you will try cases other than how the DA tells you to try them. Lets hope he has the same ideals as you. If not, your tenure might be quite short.

[Ilvane]

I would run if I felt that I could make a difference. I'm not sure they'd take a dual degree in Organizational Psychology and then one in music for qualifications though.

I just enjoy discussing politics. I would love to make a difference in health care in America, and also on welfare reform.

Angela

[TheEschaton]

That's why you only apply at DA's offices where you agree with the DA's politics. It's like any job. I wouldn't apply for a job at Raytheon, and I wouldn't apply for a job at certain DA's offices.

-TheE-

[Valthissa]

I count among the worst mistakes of my life volunteering to fill an open seat on the county planning commission. My brush with the public (homeowners & developers) and government employees during that year cured me of any vague ambition I might have had to be a public servant.

C/Valth

[Skirmisher]

I do want to be an ADA, yes. Because the idea of defending people who are unequivocably guilty is something I can't do. I understand their right to a lawyer, but I'm not gonna be him.

As a prosecutor, a fair-minded one who is interested in justice and criminal rehabilitation, at least I could operate in good faith that I'm doing good.

-TheE-

Oh my yes.

My uncle worked as a public defender and the gut wrenching aspect of knowing you have gotten off someone who has done despicable things just ate away at him till he had to quit.

[Sean of the Thread]

Public defenders are 99% garbage. (yes from personal experience)

[Keller]

Didnt you say you were going to be an assistant district attorney? I figured you to be more of a defense attorney with your bleeding heart and idealistic viewpoint. Imagining you prosecuting all those innocently charged criminals does give me a chuckle. Indeed.

Working for the DAs office is a segue to politics. They're also very tough jobs to get, at least in LA. You've got to be top-10% and have some serious interview skills or a nice resume to pull off getting hired right out of law school. They usually hire up-and-coming litigators or "internally" through JAG or other military corps.

On the other hand, with a few rare bleeding heart exceptions, the public defender's office is the destination of last resort for a lot of young attorneys. When they can't find any other job, they recognize their lot out of law school and work for the PDO. These are the kids who either have a lack of intelligence or lack or work ethic (usually a combination of the two).



Public defenders are 99% garbage. (yes from personal experience)

See above for explanation why the average PD is garbage.

[TheEschaton]

The Suffolk Co. (Boston) and the NYC DA's offices (Manhattan and the other burroughs) hire a good number of our graduates every year. With the Suffolk county DA's office, the majority of them are BC/BU graduates anyways.

-TheE-

[Xandalf]

Absolutly.