Have you noticed that elected office, local, state and national is the quickest path to wealth?

Forget the idea of public servants, our elected officials have become our masters. They don't look to get our opinions when deciding how to vote on a particular bill. They check with their "peers" in their spheres of influence locally or in Washington. They assume the role of parents deciding what's best for their "children."

The word Government is defined by Webster as "the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens or inhabitants of communities, societies and states." Maybe we should elect Management instead of Government.

I've had the opportunity to work for and with a number of elected officials on both local and national levels. I found most of them to be no more or less intelligent than the average businessman or woman. Unlike a military leader who earns the right to command those under them, the holder of a political office is chosen through a process not unlike a popularity contest. Take a good look at some of the people who occupy positions of power in Washington and tell me you're really comfortable with them making decisions that effect your life and family.

These people have come to believe they're some kind of royalty. They actually believe their election to public office gives them the right to control every facet of our existence. Using the latest popular scientific "theory" they assume the right to tell us what to eat and how much. In spite of the fact that two thirds of this planet is water they're trying to convince us of the necessity to limit our water use. And the list goes on.

They've convinced a number of you that Tax Cuts must be paid for. They know that tax cuts increase job growth and revenue to the government. They rely on the fact that our schools have done such a terrible job of teaching even basic Economics that the majority of you don't know enough to question their claims.

We limit our Presidents to two terms yet we have hundreds of thousands of local, state and national office holders earning 6 figures while they remain in one office or another, for decades. These clowns jump from public office to another public office and wind up qualifying for multiple pensions or just double dip while you and I are paying through the nose for them to live high on the hog. Every time term limits are proposed we're told we need experienced office holders and that it takes too long to get those newly elected to get up to speed. NONSENSE! Does this make any sense to you?

I suggest that we go back to the idea of the CITIZEN LEGISLATOR. They could serve a maximum of two terms and return to the private sector, without a golden parachute or multiple pensions. Don't expect any current office holder to support term limits -- it's going to take a Constitutional Amendment.

We could institute a DRAFT into Public Service and expose everyone to the many roads to wealth traveled by those currently serving. I've been told we should look at the problem from another perspective and demand that candidates have at least 10 years experience in the private sector to be eligible for public office. I'd go along with that.

Why do we allow our legislators to exempt themselves from laws and other directives they pass to control the rest of us. If we lie to Congress we go to jail. When they lie to us they get re-elected. Does that make any sense to you?

We have city managers of Podunk U.S.A., heads of school boards and too many other agencies making six figures and getting plush fringe benefits while we're paying the bill. WHY?

Compare the salaries of your local City, State or Town officials with what we pay elected Senators and Representatives ($174,000 a year) and tell me why locals deserve that much more.

While you're at it you may look at the salaries of those Senators and Representatives and tell me how they manage to retire as millionaires and billionaires on those salaries?

Look at the time served in office by those currently in our local, state and federal offices. Seniority, not ability is the measure of success of our mayors, legislators, senators, aldermen etc. WHY?

Make it a felony for members of Congress, Cabinet members and other high ranking public officials to build their net worth through insider trading. Unlike the rest of us, they don't even get a slap on the wrist for things you and I would go to jail for. Why?

We are the real problem. Only half of those eligible to vote are registered and only half of those registered actually cast a ballot. And half of those are either gullible dupes, uninformed or misinformed.

Local, State and Federal Governments have too much time on their hands. The amount of time they are in session should be reduced to no more than 6 months a year in total. That way, we can cut their salaries, benefits, associated costs and limit the number of ways they can come up with to control every facet of our lives.

We don't need nannys -- we need representation!