I’d always admired former House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill for returning to Massachusetts after he stepped down as Speaker of the House. That move showed that he saw himself as serving the people who first elected to Congress rather than as a part of a permanent Washington establishment. While an accomplished politicians, politics was not all there was to this very liberal man.
Indeed, the last picture I recall seeing of the Democrat was enjoying a Red Sox game with his grandchildren shortly after his retirement.
I’ve often wondered how many of his fellow partisans follow his example when they lose (or otherwise leave) office. While the first Republican to succeed O’Neill as Speaker seems to have made the nation’s capital his home, I’ve often thought that a greater percentage of former Republican lawmakers return to their jurisdictions than do Democrats. It’s just a thought, but given our philosophy that government should play only a limited role in our lives.
But, then again, given how Republicans of late have lost sight of that philosophy, maybe they remain in the nation’s capital, still sucking at the political teat.
It would be interesting to see if anyone had ever studied this. For now, I’ll just put the thought out there for discussion — and perhaps some diligent reader can google to see if there’s any date to support (or dismiss) my notion.
(BTW, this idea crossed my mind as I was pondering the post which should lead this on the first Monday of June, hence the absence of links and the question mark in the title. It’s more a question than a conclusion.)
When watching John Adams or maybe it was The Presidents…one thing that struck me. The founders created the House of representatives with the idea that after a few terms the members would return to their home districts and resume their private lives and careers. Whether it be blacksmith, lawyer, baker or taylor. They assumed while serving in the peoples House, they would not be tyrants and pass any onerous legislation, because soon they would have to return home and LIVE under those rules and laws. Most all of our polititians serve way too long and I think most stay in Washington DC and lobby and make tons of money. So passing legislation that actually hurts the average person, doesn’t really effect them as they become rich and immune to bad laws.
I remind you of the times when Congress people have cut lines at airports, parked in no parking zones, because they thought they were better than us. The whole HOUSE banking scandal in the 90’s was because they used it as a interest free loan ATM machine.
I agree with Gene about how the founders probably viewed the House and how too many congressmen don’t feel truly accountable to their constituents. Furthermore, I would gather that Republicans are more likely to return home after their terms are up.
I think that being a politician has become a career instead of a civic duty, and that is the main reason that they don’t go home. Its the only thing they have skills to do. I know that this is not always the case, but it is too often true. I also find it fascinating that most politicians start at the state level and move to Washington after a time, but they tend to forget how frustrating it is when Washington was interfering in their business when they were at the state level. I think politicians have some weird memory problem upon arrival in Washington.