The Founding Fathers were all successful leaders in their own fields. George Washington, for example, and Thomas Jefferson, George Mason and James Madison were all farmers, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton were lawyers, and Benjamin Franklin was a publisher. None were career politicians. They proceeded to design a government which both reflected their civilian experience and demonstrated their suspicion of politicians in general and particularly an all-powerful government.
Needless to say, the country founded by these citizen leaders has strayed far from their ideal of citizen government. They envisioned a government run by leaders in civilian endeavors who take time out from their normal careers to serve the nation temporarily and then beat a hasty retreat back to their chosen field as soon as their service has been concluded. These men were motivated by patriotism and the need to donate their time and talents to the country to which they owed their freedom and their allegiance.
For the first time in a long time, we are now witnessing a resurgence of citizen government in the cabinet assembled by our president-elect, Donald J. Trump. With some exceptions, the new cabinet will be composed of leaders from business, industry and the military, all of whom have made their mark outside of government, none of whom probably expected to be called to public service.
This phenomenon has already caused a minor earthquake among the political class. They and their followers in the media are sputtering about past associations of the candidates with other countries, about their lack of government experience, their need to invent new rules about conflicts of interest, and writings or speeches given in the past which indicated that they held opinions which might today upset some people. This consternation is ironic, given that the defeated longtime public servant, along with her husband, was one of the all-time profiteers from their so-called “public service.” Last fall, conflicts of interest did not seem to bother the Democrats who now are casting themselves as the ethics police.
The appearance on the scene of a roster of men and women who do not owe their fame and fortunes to public office is at the very least refreshing. At most, it may turn out to be a true “draining of the swamp.” These are people who are used to making hard decisions and taking risks to achieve their goals. They have had to master the discipline of penetrating the trivia to the heart of the matter, and most of all expecting competence and dismissing those who lack either competence or diligence. People like this are bound to shake things up in the massive bureaucracy that is our federal government.
And it is about time. There are some exciting days ahead for the Grand Old Party. And for the rest of us as well.
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