When I was a young boy, my father

and I would discuss politics after dinner. I would say things like “everyone deserves nice things”. And he would say something like “yeah but I work really hard and I want to be rewarded for that, and I don’t want anyone to get something for doing nothing” and we would go back and forth until he ran out of counter arguments and whip out old reliable.

“That would be nice if it were possible. But unfortunately the people in power are corrupt, and no form of government is immune to corruption.

AND YOU’LL NEVER FIND A POLITICIAN WHO PUTS THE PEOPLE’S NEEDS BEFORE THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS.

I’m tired and I have to go to work early in the morning so you can afford to be a spoiled brat, we’re done here, goodnight, I love you.”

The part in the middle, you may have noticed I put some emphasis on it. It always stuck out to me. I didn’t want to be a politician, but I did think about it. I always knew that if, by some freak accident I ended up in a position of power, I wouldn’t take a cent from anybody. I’d pass laws that kept people happy, well fed and well educated. I’d slash our needless military spending and end pointless oil wars, and tax the billionaires until they were no more powerful than anyone else. I’d pass laws that ban politicians from public office outright if they accept any gifts or bribes or special vacations or secret getaways with business owners or foreign interests. Hell I’d ban public servants from getting birthday presents from their kids if that’s what it takes to end corruption.

If I were to be a politician, I would put the people’s needs before my own self interests.

Help me in the age old tradition of sons proving fathers wrong. Help me in the American tradition of taking a shitty government and making it better. Help me defeat one of Chuck Schumer’s self serving rotating villains.

And I promise, I will help you.