Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

   - Ecclesiastes 10.16, 17

It is well known that through the squabbling of princes comes every affliction and harm. It is because of their dishonesty that grain, milk, and fruit are not plentiful.

   - The Rule of Carthage, Irish, 7th century

It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of having rulers whose first priority is the public weal. Difficult to overestimate, but, apparently, hard to attain. 

We’ve seen so much self-interest and pandering to influence on the part of public officials in recent years that whatever the next such case may be, it won’t surprise us. And I suppose, in one sense, that’s the way it will always be, at least, as long as the law of sin continues to be a factor in human decision-making. 

Has there ever been a time when political leaders acted solely on the basis of national interest and the common good? I’m sure there have been such times; we just haven’t seen many of them of late, nor many public officials who, we think, might actually set aside self-interest for larger ideals as the hallmark of their tenure in office.

Self-denial just doesn’t come naturally to politicians – or to any of us, for that matter.

Our lawmakers, judges, and executive branch officials are just a projection into the public square of what has become the basic character of the nation. We may lament and decry so sorry a state of politics in our country, but we’re only indicting ourselves as a people. Remember, the first words of our governing document tell us squarely who’s to blame for the greed, corruption, and incompetence that now seem firmly entrenched in the public square: “We the people...”

More honest, selfless, and responsible government begins, in a democracy such as ours, with the governed. That’s what all that political polling is about. Believers are called to render unto Caesar that which rightly belongs to him. Surely that begins with the kind of character we nurture within our own souls.

Long-term political reform begins with short-term and ongoing spiritual reform in the hearts of the people. You don’t even have to vote for it; God will grant it in response to our earnest pleading and faithful obedience to His Law.

But first we must plead and obey.

Psalm 19.9-11 (St. Christopher: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”)
The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
Be warned by every word and line; be blest with joy complete.

Lord, we know that with You it is not a man’s place or standing that matter, but his principles and life; let us be a people of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit. Adapted from Columbanus, Letter V