III. Dangers of a Salaried Bureaucracy by Benjamin Franklin. America: I. (1761-1837). Vol. VIII. Bryan, William Jennings, ed. 1906. The World's Famous Orations: "Dangers of a Salaried Bureaucracy"
"Dangers of a Salaried Bureaucracy"
For those who oppose Term Limits for our politicians, how do you feel about not paying them a salary? How long do you think they would remain in office under those circumstances? I fear Benjamin Franklin's concerns regarding a "salaried bureaucracy" have come to be. Please read by clicking the above link when you have the time.
Some of my favorite (or most feared) excerpts:
Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice—the love of power and the love of money. Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but, when united in view of the same object, they have, in many minds, the most violent effects. Place before the eyes of such men a post of honor, that shall, at the same time, be a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it."
and yet another warning that seems to have come to be - after all, how many times does Congress sneak in a "pay raise" for themselves and you only really learn of it "after the fact":
"Besides these evils, sir, tho we may set out in the beginning with moderate salaries, we shall find that such will not be of long continuance. Reasons will never be wanting for proposed augmentations; and there will always be a party for giving more to the rulers, that the rulers may be able, in return, to give more to them. Hence, as all history informs us, there has been in every state and kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing and the governed; the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the princes or enslaving of the people."
And just one more excerpt - this one goes to the "Content of Character" the salaried bureaucrat will attract to fill the post:
"And of what kind are the men that will strive for this profitable preeminence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate, the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your government and be your rulers. And these, too, will be mistaken in the expected happiness of their situation, for their vanquished competitors, of the same spirit, and from the same motives, will perpetually be endeavoring to distress their administration, thwart their measures, and render them odious to the people."
...do we honestly still wonder why our politicians (any party) always seem to lie to us? To not be who we thought they were when we elected them? How can we honestly be shocked when we have been warned for years - when we also know people like this who will abuse the post of power/profit to claim their "class" among society? It should be no surprise to anyone that the character of our political leaders is lacking that which we would demand in even a mild acquaintance. I trust almost any stranger so much further than I would any political leader in these modern times.
We must find a way to limit their power & influence. No one individual should be able to obtain such a lifetime of power - no matter how many "goodies" they bring home for the "people". Either limit the amount of time they spend in leadership - or take away the profit of a lifetime given over to it. One or the other - they can not remain to have both or we have given over ourselves to the "ruling class" and we might as well be a modernized version of a monarchy.
FOLLOW UP: Below is my response to a statement I received arguing against term limits and pointing out that Franklin was referring primarily to the Executive Level of Government. This is from my
Facebook page.
I realize that Franklin was referring primarily to the Executive level of the Government - but when Congress allows the government to become more "bureaucratic" every day - and profits off that decision - they have inadvertently allowed the government of which Franklin warned to exist - this is the issue I have with "CZARS" - under any administration. Congress is no longer doing it's job and yet the members still profit from their position. They either need to do their job or step down to let others do so. The time of passing the buck of responsibility to a non-elected bureaucrat is over, esp. when you reap the rewards of that decision and none of the penalties.
I see no avoidance of influence from the power-hungry activists with our current system. I see no benefit that is actually being realized after this many years of existence from a government without term limits on all elected offices. I only see people (from both parties) who have learned the loopholes and gray areas of government to exploit. With a term of a Senator being 6 years - add a 2 or 3 term limit to that - and 12 to 18 years is sufficient time to learn the legislative process and become "experienced" without a lifetime of profit being necessary.
