My father could not pay for the type of health care commonly available to those who can afford being part of the best health care system in the world, and it eventually killed him. When national economic policies failed to provide decent jobs at decent wages, my parents floundered on the seas of the working poor, unable to translate hard work and persistence into anything more than an abysmal existence. My own little family became a laboratory of what was possible in America. And through it I found myself becoming involved with politics and government, and while struggling with myriad societal problems, I learned to treasure the importance of democracy to our American way of life. I spent fourteen years in elected office, and through persistent contacts with the people who run local and national governments I learned a deep appreciation not only of the way in which we pursue public policies but also of the honesty, courage, integrity, and dedication of the men and women who give content, and flesh and blood, to the words politics and government .
Democracy is hard work for both politicians and citizens.
Attitudes toward politics, politicians, and government are deeply engrained in the American culture. Neither do they watch the news or read newspapers with a blank slate. Unfortunately, too little of the ebb and flow of what government officials do actually get to be viewed by citizens. Their collective experiences have come increasingly from media translations of the most cartoonish kind. Instead, the objective is to convey the trials and tribulations of elected officials as they go about the task of fulfilling their responsibilities.