Take Their Leave of Public Life

photo by brx0

I was reading some famous speeches over on The Art of Manliness site awhile back (I love me some good speech-a-fying).   I read the resignation speech of George Washington and remembered that he lead the example of serving his time and moving on.  How many of today’s politician leave so gracefully?  And if they do leave, how many return to lobby, or assigned to a cabinet position? 

Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.

In my humble opinion federal politicians must remove themselves from all public life.  They’re done.  They don’t get elected back into office, poof done.  They are only allowed back into D.C. as a tourist.  Can’t be a lobbyist, can’t run for congress.  Done.  I’ll let them have one shot at running for President, but after that, poof.  Done. 
There will still be plenty of opportunities to go on speaking tours or apply for positions in corporate or academic America. Other than that, they are banned from all political public service.  Too many politicians stay too long in power after they were supposed to be leaving power that it just reeks of corruption, greed and good-old boy power grabbing. 
When you though something into the trash can you expect it to go away and never come back.  We should never recycle politicians.