From: bam@bnlux1.bnl.gov (Bruce A. Martin)
Subject: "Professional" politicians.  was Re: Study Explains Why *Political Scientists* Oppose Term Limitations
Summary: Same reason lawyers oppose legal advice books, MDs oppose midwives, etc.
Keywords: Guild socialism.
Organization: (none)
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 18:19:26 GMT

In article <1992Mar25.015948.12442@nuscc.nus.sg> ipser@solomon.technet.sg (Ed Ipser) writes:
>
>
>  Study Explains Why Political Scientists Oppose Term Limitations
>  
>  Washington D.C. -- Political scientists are openly hostile to term
>  limitation. ...
>
>  Petracca explains that political scientists were instrumental in
>  promoting the professionalization of legislatures. 
		 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Interesting term:  "professionalization" of legislatures.

That simply means taking government away from the people by creating
a class of "professional" rulers.  

Of course, practitioners of this phony "profession" would want to limit entry
and discourage amateurs or ordinary citizens from involvement in government
(or direct scrutiny of the work of their "professional" work).

"Political Science" is another interesting term.  Originally, it referred to
a *study* of political institutions.  Later, "political scientists" discovered
that instead of making their living & reputation by analyzing political 
institutions, it would be easier & far more lucrative to invent a "profession" 
and create new kinds of political institutions to be analyzed (and controlled).

>  Many political scientists prefer stability and efficiency to broad political
>  participation. 

Of course the "professional" politicians, those usurpers of governance, would
desire to discourage broad participation by the governed.

To defend their dirty little monopoly, those who establish and perpetuate
this self-defined ruling class will attempt to intimidate their subjects by
suggesting that government by the people & of the people MUST NECESSARILY be
unstable and inefficient.  (BTW precisely this argument is used to advocate
central control of wages, prices, markets, and the means of production.)

>They believe term limitation would quickly exaust the pool
>  of political leaders. They are cynical about the attentiveness, general
>  knowledge, and judgemental capacity of the average voter. 

Ah, yes.  We don't want to "exhaust the pool" now, do we?  The *chosen* are
so few, and their qualities so rare, that mere mortals needn't apply.

After all, in the last several decades, since we've had those "professionals"
in office, the United States Congress has set a standard of attentiveness,
knowledge, judgement, and behavior to which ordinary citizens could never
hope to aspire!

>Their views may
>  be influenced by politcal partisanship. And they may even perceive
>  attacks on professional politicians as a threat to their own
>  professionalism.

Clearly, the "professional" politico would never have reason to allow such
nasties as political partisanship, campaign donations, or career concerns to
influence his sacred vote.  Nay, only the citizen legislator (on furlough
from his honest job) would have reason to worry about impacts on his
political career or be influenced by partisan considerations.

>
>  "Why Political Scientists Oppose Term Limits" is no. 14 in the Briefing
>  Paper series, published by the Cato Institute, an independent public
>  policy organization in Washington, D.C.
>
>
>  
>Available from:
>  Cato Institute
>  224 Second Street SE
>  Washington, DC  20003

Cato usually does a nice job, but this one was almost a tautology!
What's next?  "Why H&R Block opposes tax reform"?
"Why Cable TV companies oppose competition"?
"Why unions oppose Workfare"?  
or "Why gun-control advocates oppose harsher sentences for gun crimes"?


BAM  /|\Master of the Tripods of Haephestus./|\    -/s/-  Bruce A. Martin
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