We Need to Expect More
Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution has become one of my favorite books. It is no easy read. In fact parts of it read like Isaiah in the Bible. But like Isaiah, in the midst of all the mud [incomprehensible verse after verse] you find nuggets.
Here is a nugget about what I’d argue is the ‘call of the public servant or elected official.’
“It should never be forgotten, that in a republican government [quick aside here to reemphasize that we DO NOT live in a democracy but in a republic] offices are established, and are to be filled, not to gratify private interests and private attachments; not as a means of corrupt influence, or individual profit; not for cringing favourites, or court sycophants; but for purposes of the highest public good; to give dignity, strength, purity, and energy to the administration of the laws.”
I know we live in an imperfect world, but I believe that Story gives us the golden standard to which we should aspire individually in our personal lives and to which we should hold our public servants accountable.
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Given the following charge, where do our current set of federal officials and current governor stack up. I’d be interested in your thoughts.
