Reason and Politics go together? That's an interesting theory.

Another theory is anyone seeking political office is suspect because they either have some hidden [or not so hidden] agenda or don't understand the requirements of the job.

The good candidates get run off because of the character assasination they and their families have to go through from the professional candidates and the media.

And I don't believe in giving money to political parties or candidates, I think it should be illegal. My version of campaign finance reform would require all candidates have access to the same pool of money, outlaw mentioning other candidates in campaign ads, require participation in candidate debates at least every other week, submit a resume listing the community service and improvement projects the candidate has participated in, and require candidates to write essays in a monitored setting [to confirm they at least put the words on paper themselves] detailing what issues they view as important and how they plan to work through them.

And yes, I keep in touch with my "representatives" and I have the form letters to prove it. Unfortunately, most "representatives" come from a voting district designed to spit out a candidate of a particular demographic and keep the 2 party system chugging along, so they don't really represent who you think they do.

I keep hoping Ben Franklin will be reincarnated, but the odds are pretty slim. In the meantime, I'll just do what I can to help out in my own little community.