On The American Nobility

A paradox exists within our government that makes me question the system we have established. We want and need the best and brightest individuals in this country to be our leaders. This necessitates that we pay them a fair and honest wage. Along with other benefits, the President of The United States is paid $400,000 annually. Senators and congressmen make just under $170,000 plus benefits. Majority and minority leaders and the speaker of the house make even more. For all that we expect of our representatives, I believe that this is a fair wage. They may even deserve more with all that is required of the offices they hold.

However, the average American household income in 2007 was just over $50,000. The average senator makes more than triple the average American family. They also receive a pension and healthcare with their office, which is much more than the average American family can say. It is tough to expect men of such wealth and stature to truly understand the plight of the people they are sworn to represent. I have a hard time believing that all of our leaders know the price of a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. Do you think they clip coupons out of the Sunday paper? Frankly, the way our government is set up, they shouldn’t have to. They are far too busy and their time is far too valuable. Their position inherently means that they are not like the people the represent.

Many of our leaders weren’t average Americans even before they took office. Arnold Schwarzenegger was Mr. Olympia and a box office sensation long before he was the governor of California. Bill Bradley won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks before he became a senator for New Jersey. The list of the rich and famous that have ran for or held office is quite long. Steve Largent, Sonny Bono, Al Franken, Jack Kemp, Ronald Reagan, Fred Thompson, Jesse Ventura, Tom Osborne, Gerald Ford, Richard Petty, have all run for or held a prominent position in our government. That is just naming a few. While some of these men may be famous for being a politician, they were also well known before running for office. How can they truly understand the plight of their constituency? While they made their living as actors and sports stars, the average American wakes up and grinds for a living. They are as different as night and day.

The American people expect that their government be full of the upper echelon of society. The best of the best. However, they also expect that their representatives also understand the plight of the common man. Unfortunately, these two traits are not often found in the same man. The scarcity of this type of man should be a sign to everyone that the system we have set up has a grave flaw that needs to be remedied urgently. Can there ever be a government where the power given to those elected does not create a new class, a new way of life, a new person?

Bill Doyle, Massachusetts