Politics, after the glamour of the elections, is perhaps one of the duller pursuits; which is why we have defensively created such a circus out of the whole process; arguably making it even more odious to those of us with real lives than the idea of sitting behind a desk and making fatuous, pointless speeches to people we don't know about stuff we don't always understand.
I would hate it; almost everyone I know would. Having one's life pried into, one's character constantly judged; and depending on the length of one's term, having to turn, from the moment one starts the job, to the task of reelection, fundraising, impressing and cozening those who might help us in the future. We may have to misrepresent our own feelings from time to time to satisfy interests that lie elsewhere. I would die first.
If elections started six months before voting; if terms were twice as long; perhaps even twenty years, so that they amounted to careers; (with carefully staggered terms so that every year somebody was being replaced to avoid blocks of power from forming) if one television channel only was available, perhaps C-SPAN, for political advertising, and if that were free to the nominees so that no money would change hands between voters and the nominees; if all mention and association with one's Party were dead at the door once the job started; no speeches, no favors, definitely no lobbying" perhaps then Government, which should be the simple task of coordinating our efforts and pooling our resources to lead happy lives and perfect the art of living together peacefully-- would be functional. But then, the job would become what it pretty much is: An awful Bore better done by computers..
Given a choice, I'd rather be a diplomat. It'll be a while before they can make a computer that could navigate Kennedy International airport.
