![\"politician\"](\"http:\/\/grumpyseniors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/politician.png\")
<\/a>It brought back memories of my time working with politicians.\nI’ve worked with and for many over the years.<\/p>\n
Only a few I ended up liking as a person.<\/p>\n
Too many are focused on only themselves and the next election.
\nAnd more than a few are mean, nasty people when the door is closed.<\/p>\n
There’s something that draws these types of people to public service.
\nFor some there’s a need for public adoration – the need to be loved and looked up to.<\/p>\n
It’s an outsized ego that is constantly fed by those around them.<\/p>\n
Unless you’re a paid staffer, you are a volunteer and you’re there because you “believe” and tell the politician that constantly.<\/p>\n
Hear that enough and you start to expect\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Politicians surround themselves with loyal people.<\/p>\n
People who are believers in the \u201cvision\u201d, won\u2019t talk behind their back and can be counted on come re-election time to help with the campaign.<\/p>\n
Someone you can safely throw a tantrum in front of, share ideas with or do dumb things around without it showing up on the front page of the newspaper.<\/p>\n
Makes sense.<\/p>\n
If all of a sudden you, as the new governor, had 1,000 jobs to fill, you\u2019d want people you trust filling them.<\/p>\n
People who are loyal.
\nOne of the most prized things in politics is loyalty.<\/p>\n
The politician gets up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says to him or herself that they are the only one that can fix the problems facing a country, state or city.<\/p>\n
Of course that’s baloney, but that’s the thought process.<\/p>\n
Some politicians I’ve known demand they get their name in the paper every day.<\/p>\n
Some demand that a press release on their great work be sent daily.<\/p>\n
After a while they start believing their own publicity.<\/p>\n
And when they get into office, I found most are lousy managers.<\/p>\n
It’s a different skill set\u00a0and few know how to get the best from their people.<\/p>\n
Some manage by fear and intimidation, with an eye only on how they will be perceived by the voters.<\/p>\n
After all, there’s a re-election down the road.<\/p>\n
Just remember – for every nasty negative ad, there’s a politician approving it.<\/p>\n
I was lucky in that I was perceived as competent at what I did and I also knew a LOT of very important people who might be helpful to them.<\/p>\n
Treat me bad and they’d worry I could cause them all sorts of political trouble.<\/p>\n
I would never do that but not denying that possibility kept the stress level way down for me.<\/p>\n
It’s important to know that some politicians are there for the right reason, although far too many are not.<\/p>\n
I know just about everyone in office and the great ones can be counted on two hands.<\/p>\n
Many people think all politicians are crooks – except for the one they voted for.
\nAnd that’s how they keep getting into office.<\/p>\n
The founding fathers never expected politics to be a lifetime job and one that should be held by regular people, not just lawyers and certainly not forever.<\/p>\n
This is political as I’ll get.<\/p>\n
The wife says I should write a book.
\nNo one would believe any of it if I did.<\/p>\n