John Baer: Time to get back to a government 'of,' 'by' and 'for the people'

IN THE WEEK we celebrate our founding, I'm thinking of those who govern us.

Specifically, I'm thinking about how poorly they do so, how far we've veered from the promise of what government should be.

This thinking was spurred over a long July Fourth holiday, some of it spent in D.C. visiting the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol.

The Newseum's façade has a four-story inscription of the First Amendment, enough to give any American and, especially, any journalist, goose bumps.

What a good idea, that First Amendment, the cornerstone of democracy.

Yet a declining free print press - depleted resources, demonization by partisans, sagging credibility - contributes to declining governance.

As for the clattering class of talk radio and cable "news" adding heat but rarely light? The word vacuous comes to mind.

As the reach of responsible media shrinks and the greed of self-centered government grows, democracy is endangered.

A diminished guardian puts treasure at risk.

This dovetailed dive of media and leadership makes Lincoln's 1863 Gettysburg call for a new dedication to government "of the people, by the people, for the people" seem a naive notion - which is sad.

But the hard truth is that our governing class is rarely "of" or even "by" us, and more rarely "for" us.

The causes are clear.

Elections too often are mere fundraising contests, a trend worsened by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Too many in office favor the interests of those who put them in power, and common partisanship, not common sense, sets government's direction.

Democrats, for example, often favor teachers' unions and pour more tax dollars into public schools. Republicans often favor corporate interests and limited business taxes, creating budgets that cut money to schools.

Sound familiar?

It shouldn't be about liberal or conservative ideologies. If government is "for" the people, surely there's middle ground from which all people can be best served.

Partisanship is not an answer; it's an alternating roadblock to progress, a tug-of-war in which change depends on which party has tugging power when.

Also, those charged with solving our problems don't experience our problems.

The folks in Washington trying to fix the economy don't suffer from the economy. Members of Congress aren't hurting. Neither are those working for them or the federal government.

Washington, D.C., has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the nation among large metro areas. It's 5.7 percent (Oklahoma City is lowest at 4.9; the U.S. rate is 9.1).

People in Harrisburg trying to create jobs don't need jobs. Members of the state Legislature aren't hurting. Neither are those working for them or for state government.

Metro Harrisburg's unemployment rate is 6.9 percent, among the lowest in the state. Pennsylvania's is 7.4 percent. Philadelphia's is 9.9 percent.

And don't get me started on City Council, DROP or Arlene Ackerman.

Too few public servants serve the public. Too many talking about "jobs, jobs, jobs" are talking about their own.

Pick your issue: the cost of foreign wars, cuts in social programs, national debt, cuts to schools. Where in Congress, the Legislature, Council are the cuts in compensation, perks or pensions?

What Thomas Jefferson called "the blessings and security of self-government" today belong only to those who govern.

My question is this: When do the few good men and women in public life lead us back to the ideals and principles that first got us started?

Such leadership would be more welcome than fireworks.

Send email to baerj@phillynews.com.

For recent columns, go to

www.philly.com/JohnBaer. Read Baer's blog at www.philly.com/BaerGrowls.