Demands of Democracy

First we define our terms:

Politician: A representative of a constituency within government whose avowed goal is to represent the aims and desires of that constituency. The reasonableness or appropriateness of those aims and desires is moot and quick fads have the same if not more weight as long lasting needs. The personal goal of the politician is to satisfy the goal sufficiently to stay in office. A politician will jettison a course of action if it interferes with the success of reelection.

Statesman: A representative of a constituency within government whose avowed goal is to represent the needs and health of that constituency. The reasonableness and appropriateness of the needs and health may conflict with the immediate aims and desires of that constituency. The statesman knows that the job will never be complete and will set in place activities and program that will outlast any tenure in office. A statesman will risk election failure if the goal is sufficiently important and endangers reelection.

So: a democratic system such as ours needs statesmen. But the democratic process requires politicians.

Any wonder why we're messed up?
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