What happened to public service?

OPINION:

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida states the obvious when he writes that “Washington is broken” (“Public Service Reform Act is needed to make Washington work,” web, June 8).

But the proposed Public Service Reform Act — which he supports as a means of fixing it — misses the root cause of our government’s failings.

The fact is that both major political parties have prioritized their own voters’ values over passing laws that could achieve the seven intentions stated in our Constitution’s preamble. They have turned public service into “party service” and created the most dysfunctional government since the Civil War. Getting reelected is their highest — and often, seemingly only — priority. 

Wisdom would be voting for principled laws that honor “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” mentioned in the most profound political document in human history, the Declaration of Independence. But achieving our Constitution’s intentions would require policymakers from both parties to unite to amend our Constitution, which is focused on self-evident truths instead of the flawed principles they often have in mind. 

They should consider the wise words of Thomas Paine: “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

The opportunity to take this path, however, is rapidly closing.

CHUCK WOOLERY
Rockville, Maryland

Correction: A previous version of this letter incorrectly stated Sen. Rick Scott’s state and said he was a presidential candidate.