I have often wondered what happens to apparently good men when they get elected to public office especially if they go off to that office in Washington. It seems almost inconceivable that ALL of them could lose ALL virtue, ALL sense of decency, ALL conscience and ALL desire to maintain whatever ethical compulsions and core moral values they had at one time. This desertion of principle is easier to understand in any single department, company, division etc. where there is one head but in a Congress where each of the 535 men and women are supposed to be their own boss it is not quite so easy to understand. In any single headed organization the hiring practices are such that the philosophy of the head cheese permeates or, in the case of government agencies, infects the entire group either by consent or by discrimination. Those that agree with the philosophy are promoted those that disagree are discriminated to an extent that usually results in their self termination.
I am no longer sure this is the sole explanation, for while it is certain that the “fish stinks from the head down” many below the head are corrupted by the organization’s culture and fellow employees, they are not all forced to leave nor do they all quit because they cannot live with what they see. This became clear to me while reading 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 wherein Paul states, “” Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
Herein lies the explanation for what we see in Washington. Occasionally some good men go to Washington but the company they keep is so evil whatever good habits they had become corrupted. They find themselves fearing men rather than God and serving themselves rather than those that elected them. And so, once again, the bible provides the truth.
To be continued –