The Koreagate scandal, he said, is an indication of the caliber of our legislators. This attitude may not be typical, but it is clearly shared by a large number of Americans. Dick is troubled by being turned off by the state of politics as he sees it-he would like to think of himself as a good citizen. The crooked politician deserves the same fate as any other crook. Nor should it be argued that there are crooks in other occupations and professions.
People go into elective politics for a variety of reasons.
Some are strongly influenced by family tradition. Some conclude that politics can be financially rewarding. Others are attracted to the challenge or have commitments to certain proposals or to their community. The reasons are not so different from those found in other occupations. It is helpful to sort out what politicians can and cannot do in a democracy.