Politics is a power game played by those men and women who wish to keep their enormous power from being diminished. Their number one incentive, which they work very hard at to accomplish, is being reelected. After all, it provides them with a level of benefits that you and I could only hope for. Government for the people takes only a distant second place in their political planning and execution of office. In the recent years politics has become something of a combat sport where the main objective is to beat the opponent. Passing bills that deal with right vs. wrong, productivity, effective government, business efficiency, political integrity, and general fairness do not receive much consideration. Engaging in these meaningful and important issues apparently does not go very far to produce votes with the American public. What does occasionally connect with the voters is the disingenuous blustering and false rhetoric that have become a mainstay of our election campaigns. Substance and truth have long since taken a back seat because the politicians know that they can frequently get away without it. I suppose politics has always been a dirty game, played by those with power to gain and little substance to offer their constituents. It's not that they don't have the skill set to provide positive guidance and improvement for the rest of us. It's most likely that they lack the incentive to fight the system that they are ensconced in. After all, it provides them with a level of benefits that you and I could only hope for, and that is not something to trifle with. Our political government has been restructured to provide a degree of luxury and job security, way beyond what is deserved by any of the participants. Over the years a seniority system has been developed that gives those at the top rungs of the ladder immense control over those who are below them. Equality among Congresspersons is merely a figment of the imagination of those who are without a clue. As a result, little productive work gets done that does not play into a senior Congressperson's quest for power. This is not to say that special favors (pork) are not doled out to the constituents of the various states. But mostly this largess is directed at those special interests who financially support the incumbent candidates. This amounts to a quid-pro-quo which is essentially legalized bribery. Favors given; money received. Could this be any more obvious?