"Robert A. Heinlein - Take back your Government" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

available candidates. It is well understood in political circles that public office
or major party office is almost always badly underpaid for the talent and
experience die jobs need. The salaries, therefore, are regarded simply as
retainers to permit the holder to eat while serving die public. But don't be a
paid ward heeler!
On the other hand, it is not wise to hold the petty hired man in the party in
contempt. You will have to work with many of them no matter what party you
are in. The biggest reform movements in this country include areas where the
Machine is dominant; the most perfectly oiled political machines include
areas where all the work is volunteer and unpaid. You will find the paid
precinct or headquarters worker as honest and as conscientious as
employees usually are; almost invariably he or she will be sincerely loyal to
the party employing him. They usually do more work than their wages justify.
Remember this, and be careful what you say to them or about them. Most of
them are as honest as you are and just as anxious for your man to win.
But don't become one of them if you expect to have any major effect on
the future of this country.
Well, then, if you are never to accept pay, except under remote
circumstances in which the job even with pay is likely to be a financial
sacrifice, what can you expect to get out of it?


17
 The rewards are intangible but very pleasing to an adult mind. The
drawbacks are easier to see. You must expect to be regarded with
amusement and even suspicion by some of your acquaintances. Most of the
station-wagon crowd you used to run around with will be certain that you are
in it for what you can get out of it, for that is the only reason their unmatured
minds can imagine. They are the free riders in the body politic; despite the
fact they do nothing to make our form of government work, they serenely
believe that the wheels go around by their gracious consent and think that
gives them the privilege of caustic and ignorant criticism of the laborers in the
vineyard.
Moreover, you won't be seeing so much of them from now on. You will
find that you are beginning to select your social contacts, your dinner guests
and your golf partners from among your political acquaintances. You will do
this because you find more intelligence, more brilliant conversation, and more
worthwhile solid human values among your political acquaintances than you
found among the free riders. You won't plan it that way, but it will work itself
out.
You will play less bridge. Bridge is a good game, but it is dull and
tasteless when compared with politics.
Your brother-in-law will shun your company. That's clear gain!
There will come to you the warm satisfaction of being in on the know
every time you pick up your newspaper. News stories that once were dull will
be filled with zest for you, because you will know what they mean.
From the stand point of sheer recreation you will have discovered the
greatest sport in the world. Horse racing, gambling, football, the fights, all of
these things are childish and trite compared with this greatest sport! Politics
is a game where you always play for keeps, where the game is continuous,